Gary L Michael
ARTIST STATEMENT
I am inspired by scenes in nature and historic cities with a strong or
unique sense of place. I try to capture the essence and share the
experience.
Art has always been an important part of my life. I drew constantly as a
child, and made thousands of drawings as an architect. My paintings are
basically drawings, whether done with a brush or with pastels. There is
something incredibly satisfying about placing lines and shapes of color on
two-dimensional surfaces, and it's all the more fun when recording and
translating my impressions of beautiful places.
BIOGRAPHY
Gary Michael is a native of the Portland, Oregon area and has been drawing
since a very early age. He studied art and architecture at the University
of Oregon and Yale University, where he received a Master of Architecture
degree. As a prinicpal in his own firm from 1965 to 1998, he won numerous
competitions and design awards.
Michael began to paint again in the early '80s. He has worked in
watercolors, colored pencil, and acrylics, but since 1990 has concentrated
on pastels and oils.
He has studied with artists such as Albert Handell, Doug Dawson, Bob Rohm,
Susan Ogilvie, Gill Dellinger, and Richard McKinley. His paintings have
won numerous awards. He is a signature member of the Pastel Society of
America and of the Northwest Pastel Society. Michael's work has been
seen in over 60 exhibitions, including 12 solo shows.
Gary Michael enjoys sharing his ideas and experiences through painting
demonstrations, teaching workshops and leading and participating in
critiques. He is available for commissioned work.
OIL PASTELS
Since early in 2008 I have been painting mostly with oil pastels. For
those of us who like to "draw" our paintings, oil pastels can work very
well. I scribble on value shapes very quickly, then brush in Gamsol (a
good odorless solvent), which results in a nice underpainting. I can work
over the underpainting while it is still wet or wait a little for it to
dry.
Recently I have demonstrated oil pastel painting at meetings of the North
Clackamas Arts Guild and the Society of Washington Artists. I taught a
one-day workshop in oil pastels and was gratified to see the interest in
this intriguing medium.
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Elk Rock from the Island
20x16 -toned pumice gel on board |
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Powell Butte Trees
24x30 - toned pumice gel on board |
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Turin Market
30x24 -toned pumice gel on board |
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Entangled
20x16 - toned pumice gel on board |
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Elk Rock Island Pools
12x16 - toned pumice gel on board |
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Artist Website
Contact the Artist
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