Each
of my paintings represents a deep and spiritual connection with the
ocean. In fact, other artist's have described my art as spiritual
minimalism.
These paintings reflect a feeling of space and mood instead of depicting
specific places or things; the subject is the mystery of the ocean, and
the timeless feeling of beauty that is above daily experience.
My desire is to use color and abstracted shapes to create something
beyond imitation or illustration, to awaken the viewer's imagination and
allow him or her to connect to a quiet, meditative place.
Painting for me is like a meditation in which time and the world around
me disappears and I move into the world of the painting. Lately, my
working process has become increasingly less analytical and more
responsive to an intuitive process. I abstract reality, and reveal the
power of light, color and atmosphere to create an emotional mood.
Instead of beginning a painting with a specific image, I start with a
key, central emotion and mood, and memories that align with these. The
concept is often vague at first, but clarifies as the painting develops,
and I focus on the mood and react to what is on the canvas.
I balance lush brushwork with ethereal fields of color, keep some areas
relatively detailed while others are more mysterious and primarily
atmospheric. This intuitive process allows a more spiritual element to
fuse with the painting. I stop before I render the painting too
clearly, always remembering to keep the subject loose and open to allow
people to bring their own ideas and interpretations to the finished
piece. I want the viewers to feel like they're standing and watching
something wonderful, to experience a truth that rises above everyday
experience.
Michael's art works are exhibited at
Pearl Canyon Art Gallery
Carmel California.
Carmel
Monterey
- Artist