29.1.09

Introduction

Hello. I am new to this blog. My name is Michael.

I am not a professional artist, but I paint at night and on weekends. I began to paint because I like to imitate the objects I find in nature and to meditate on the truths of religion, but also simply because it pleases me to bring areas of color into harmony. For me, then, painting is first of all a way of celebrating and appropriating the world; this then gives me the material I need to produce works that are beautiful in their own right, as paintings.

I paint exclusively in watercolor and gouache, on hot-pressed watercolor paper or Claybord. I also do pencil drawings. My pictures these days are usually of (Catholic) religious subjects or insects. I take my chief inspiration from prints, drawings, and children's book illustrations. I would say that I am most influenced by Gothic painting, Durer's engravings and watercolors, William Blake's paintings and illustrations to Job, Samuel Palmer's Shoreham works, Japanese block prints, and Henri Rousseau's paintings. I have long cherished a desire to do a series of Bible illustrations, but these will have to be drawings, as I paint extremely slowly!

Entombment, 5" x 7", watercolor on kaolin clay ground, 2008 (inspired by meditations on Holy Saturday)

I have been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, an autistic disorder, and I believe that this affects the way I paint in a number of ways. My pictures sometimes have a way of disintegrating into a mass of independent parts. I also get bogged down in meticulously rendering repetitive details (hairs, blades of grass, pebbles, &c). These are tendencies I am trying to work with.

I have been looking at this blog for some time now, and I am excited finally to be a part of it. I look forward to posting my pictures from time to time, to see what other people might think of them.

Mary, Mother of the Church, 10" x 14", watercolor and gouache on hot-pressed paper, 2006

15 comments:

Theodore said...

Welcome to the blog Michael. These are very beautiful works. Is there any chance we could see a higher resolution image?

Ben Hatke said...

Yes Welcome Michael! I was going to ask the same thing -images at a little higher resolution.

But from what I see these are very nice. I'm glad you are working on not getting too meticulous in the details as it is always good to try to stay lose when drawing.

That looks like a really cool snake in the second painting.

Michael said...

Okay, I changed how I uploaded the pictures; I believe that should do it.

theodore said...

Thank you Michael. Both pieces,but particularly the top one, are striking and powerful. I also really like your "avatar" image of the beetle it's wonderful. I look forward to seeing more!

Margaret Mayer said...

Welcome Michael. Your work is very powerful. Very nice!

Myth said...

They are amazing! May I have your permission to print them out for my son's prayer table? He is almost 3, and we are starting to look "into" pictures. Yours have such a beautiful wealth of detail and meaning for us to explore.

Anthony VanArsdale said...

Wonderful paintings, Michael! Beautifully detailed and very strong. Welcome to the blog!

Michael said...

Thank you all for your kind comments; Schelle, you have my permission.

Unknown said...

That first painting is really great! I love the moon.

Anonymous said...

Your painting inspired by "meditations on Holy Saturday" is really cool! You should consider selling prints of your paintings.

Myth said...

Thank you, Michael! I look forward to seeing more of your work :D

Kevin said...

Welcome to you Michael. Your work is beautiful! "Entombment" is deeply poetic. I love your framing in this piece. The figures are wonderful, remeniscent of Tomie DePaola, yet with a unique life of their own.

I like your repetitive details of the leaves and grass. There are subtle changes. It draws me into the picture.

Can't wait to see more!

Lisa said...

Just a lurker here, and I enjoy all the wonderful art! Michael , this is awesome work. I look forward to seeing more!

Margaret E. Perry said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Margaret E. Perry said...

welcome michael. that entombment is magnificent. i see the rousseau influences, but your work is very much your own. can't wait to see more.