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Meet Michael

My art is largely an extension of my focus on the spiritual and metaphysical aspects of life. Though deeply spiritual in nature, I also have a fondness for satirical subjects that underscore my view of the nature of human existence that often is a form of divine comedy. 

A former touring musician, I am a huge fan of contemporary hard rock because so many songs in this genre are highly motivational. I often name my paintings or inscribe them with song titles or quotations from meaningful lyrics that reflect my belief in always moving forward no matter what life throws your way.  

What started as a job in high school and college selling and custom mixing house paint has become an artistic achievement. My color story is unique and is a source of enthusiasm for collectors who admire how deeply saturated my canvases are. 

To give the works a 3D look, I usually paint the sides and then finish the acrylic canvases with a bold, high-gloss varnish for an extra vibrant look that is a signature part of my art practice.

Nearly all of my paintings have a lot of rhythm and flow that comes from the way I custom mix my colors and then apply them to the canvas, often reworking sections to add extra depth with highlights and lowlights and contrasting colors designed to captivate the viewer.

I start my painting journey by creating what amounts to a lyrical abstraction that might sell on its own but for me is a very intriguing background. I then build the composition on top of this complex base. I believe this mixture of broad strokes and interesting details, many of them lurking just below the surface and only visible when close to the canvas, make for a more harmonious whole that separates my work from that of most contemporary painters today. 

To be sure, I followed a bit of circuitous route on my journey to becoming a successful contemporary painter. As an adolescent in the late 1960s and early 1970s, I loved writing, music and making art. After college, I became an award winning professional writer and Pulitzer Prize nominee before becoming a touring and recording musician. I got back into art several years ago and have never looked back. 

For prints, my art business has been designated as a "Trusted Art Seller" with The Art Storefronts Organization, which means you can shop with confidence, and know that I stand behind the quality and value of my products.



Inspiration

My inspiration comes from my varied background as a musician and writer and my love of ideas.  I consider myself a spiritual person and that informs my art.  I also spend a lot of time studying the contemporary masters. I love parodies and that comes across in some of my paintings. 

Techniques

I get a lot of great feedback for my color schemes. I started by creating a book of paint formulas that I custom created. I then tweak for each painting, often changing on the fly, even mixing on the brushes themselves. I start from sketches and often have "story conferences" about the ideas I want to get across. 

Career Highlights

As a journalist, I was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and won several reporting awards. I received critical acclaim for my nonfiction book "Overdrawn." As a musician, I recorded four CDs and played 200 live shows.  For my paintings, I have received hundreds of comments and raves on Instagram.

Trusted Art Seller

The presence of this badge signifies that this business has officially registered with the Art Storefronts Organization and has an established track record of selling art.

It also means that buyers can trust that they are buying from a legitimate business. Art sellers that conduct fraudulent activity or that receive numerous complaints from buyers will have this badge revoked. If you would like to file a complaint about this seller, please do so here.

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This Website Supports Augmented Reality to Live Preview Art

This means you can use the camera on your phone or tablet and superimpose any piece of art onto a wall inside of your home or business.

To use this feature, Just look for the "Live Preview AR" button when viewing any piece of art on this website!

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