Biography
Michael was born on the Bay Area of California in 1959. His interest in art was noticed by his family early on as sketchbooks quickly replaced coloring books, thanks to his mom. As a child his easel was often set up right next to his grandmother Mary, who was an accomplished painter in her own right. The joy of being able to bring the beauty of the three-dimensional world onto a piece of paper has captivated Michael as long as he can remember.
Before beginning a career in painting, Michael studied art at Western Oregon State College with James Kirk, a master watercolor figure painter and teacher. He then went on for more intensive studies at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, and had the privilege of studying with Irving Shapiro, among others. His love for watercolor and the ways the medium could be used was deeply rooted in working with these two artists and teachers.
One of the most impressive things about Michael’s watercolor technique is his ability to use a smooth surface, such as plate finished, bristol board for many of his paintings. This smooth, non absorbent surface highlights the fluidity of the medium which Michael really enjoys. The expressive splashing of the paint can often be seen in his under painting. It also presents several other challenges to watercolor painting which is accomplished by layering multiple washes over one another to achieve darker values. On this smooth surface, it requires a very delicate and experienced touch to do it well. This is especially visible when you’re able to get close to one of the original pieces. Since working on this surface en plein air is especially challenging due to changing weather conditions, you’ll also see that Michael is adept at using traditional watercolor papers as well.
Michael continues to paint all sorts of subject matter: from vast landscapes to individual objects; country and cityscapes; still life’s, portraits and figurative work. No subject matter is off limits. He’s just looking for a bit of beauty that captures his imagination.
