ABOUT THE ARTIST
Mike grew up in Southern Maine and now resides in Southern New Hampshire. He has always lived in New England and loves the ever-changing seasons. His work is primarily landscapes but you will see still lives periodically and maybe something unusual once in a while too.
His first experience as a painter came about when a friend suggested it to him after seeing some drawings he had created from his past. This eventually led him to his friend's house for an impromptu painting lesson. A few hours later he had his first painting and so the journey started... he has been painting ever since and still has that painting hanging in his home.
His beginnings were typical - he perused through a number of art books and painted from photographs trying to copy every detail. As time went by he learned more about light, value and color and eventually went outside to paint in the open air - "en plein air" as the French would say it. All the beauty, color, and light that nature offered inspired him to capture what he saw on canvas.
It has been an enlightening experience and he continues to learn about his craft and explore his surroundings for new and exciting motifs. This life of learning seems to never end.
Some of his paintings are created "en plein air" and then finished in the studio - this is the most common way he creates his work. Other paintings are created completely in the studio, though this practice is less common. Still others are finished on the spot - outside. Some of these are sketches and others are more finished works. He mainly paints in oils, however, some pieces are in acrylic.
He believes that drawing skills are very important to successful paintings so you will see some drawings and sketches available - this can give you some insight into how his style develops and where it expands from.
Whichever way they are created the same skill, emotion, and concentration are put into every painting. He continues to paint in his hometown, it's nearby environs and the New England area including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York.
His first experience as a painter came about when a friend suggested it to him after seeing some drawings he had created from his past. This eventually led him to his friend's house for an impromptu painting lesson. A few hours later he had his first painting and so the journey started... he has been painting ever since and still has that painting hanging in his home.
His beginnings were typical - he perused through a number of art books and painted from photographs trying to copy every detail. As time went by he learned more about light, value and color and eventually went outside to paint in the open air - "en plein air" as the French would say it. All the beauty, color, and light that nature offered inspired him to capture what he saw on canvas.
It has been an enlightening experience and he continues to learn about his craft and explore his surroundings for new and exciting motifs. This life of learning seems to never end.
Some of his paintings are created "en plein air" and then finished in the studio - this is the most common way he creates his work. Other paintings are created completely in the studio, though this practice is less common. Still others are finished on the spot - outside. Some of these are sketches and others are more finished works. He mainly paints in oils, however, some pieces are in acrylic.
He believes that drawing skills are very important to successful paintings so you will see some drawings and sketches available - this can give you some insight into how his style develops and where it expands from.
Whichever way they are created the same skill, emotion, and concentration are put into every painting. He continues to paint in his hometown, it's nearby environs and the New England area including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York.