About Michael
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A watercolor of The Understudy at Capsule
A watercolor sketch of Julia’s performance of The Understudy at Capsule in Kansas City, July 19, 2019.
Watercolor study for a larger oil, Thomas Shooting
Watercolor study for a larger oil, Thomas Shooting, using my diamond grid to structure the composition.
Biography comic from 60 Ways
Comic from the biography page of 60 Ways To Leave Your Mother (Alone), my self-published children’s book from 2012. Françoise Mouly chose a few for inclusion in the 2012 edition of Best American Comics. Seems like a hundred years ago.
Supapowa, 1989
The only record of my largest and earliest painting, from 1989, when Basquiat was still king. Supapowa. Acrylic on canvas. 8 x 6 foot. After Caravaggio’s Conversion on the Way to Damascus. Seems like another lifetime, and I suppose it was.
Sketch of Scholder bronze skull
I loved, loved sketching this Scholder bronze at the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe.
Plein air watercolor of the Santa Fe sky
Two sketchbook spreads, watercolor studies of the sky looking west from Santa Fe International Hostel over a 24 hour period in late July at 11am and at 7pm.
St. Anthony and demon
Sketches for painted busts of St. Anthony and demon. Brown and black ink on watercolorpaper. 2017. 11×17″
Pencil sketch of Anja in pioneer dress
Pencil sketch of Anja in pioneer dress, inherited from her mother. Anja holds her dolly.
Pencil sketch of Sea Urchin Transformation Image
A pencil sketch of a Kwakiutl sculpture in the Nelson Atkins collection. Wood, pigment, iron door hinges, cordage and nails, ca. 1900.Larger? See link in profile.
Pencil sketch of artist Israel Alexandro García García
A pencil sketch of artist Israel Alexandro García García, performing at David Wayne Reed’s Shelf Life, at the Brick in Kansas City. June 6, 2019.
Watercolor study of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park
Watercolor study of Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park, from March 5, 2019, in the morning. Pencil and watercolor, about a thirty minute sketch.
WIP Thomas shooting in west field
A work-in-progress of Thomas shooting Carson’s ’43 Mosin at the farm. This is the first canvas I’ve attempted in about 30 years.#oilpainting #contemporarypainting #newamericanpaintings #philipguston #davidhockney #nickynodjoumi #neorauch #kerryjamesmarshall #jonimber #markuslupertz #georgbaselitz #jamesensor #fritzscholder #burchfield #harveydunn #georgecalebbingham #mosinnagant
Museum notes: Ft. Worth Modern and Kimball
Museum notes of Ft. Worth Modern and Kimball. Of Quaternity (1973), by Anselm Keiffer, “one of the most amazing paintings I have ever seen.” Dennis Blagg, Passover (1997), “the air scrubbed clean.” A sketch of Stephan Balkenhol’s 4 figures. A sketch of Bassano’s variant of the Adoration from the wonderful gem, Kimball. #kimballartmuseum #the_modern_fort_worth #anselfkeiffer #dennisblagg […]
Pencil sketch of Theresa
A pencil portrait of Theresa, who held her bright, natural smile for 25 minutes, the longest I’ve ever seen.
Sketch of Herr Falk bust by Wilhelm Lehmbruck
A pencil sketch of a bronze by Wilhelm Lehmbruck (German, 1881–1919)Portrait of Herr Falk, 1915.
Painting notes and sketch of woman
A gouache sketch of a woman. Color and composition notes from the Nelson Atkin’s European painting, such as: Poussin, “Shockingly narrow gamut of value and chroma on the [divine] faces. Greater gamut on ‘rough’ faces. Satyrs, centaurs, etc.” Or, Panini, “Mottled flesh, cartoonish simplification of planes and chroma. Bizarre foreshortening of leg on right figure.”And […]
I Love A Bad Smell tea towel sketches
Ink and pencil sketchbook pages for a tea towel design of one of Porowski’s aphorisms to be silkscreened on tea towels, giveaways at a variety show earlier this year in Brooklyn, Antoni Porowski & Friends.
Sketch of Christ Crowned With Thorns after Bouts
A pencil sketch made on the spot of Albrecht Bouts’ Christ Crowned With Thorns at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art.
Sketch of Men in Christ Masks
A gouache sketch exploring how the mask as cultural object, repetition of that object and the placement in a profane setting changes the nature of the religious subject.
Christ Crowned With Thorns, as repeated forms
A gouache sketch for a sculpture, after Bouts’ Christ Crowned With Thorns, in the Nelson Atkins museum of art. Conceived as repeated vacuform objects mounted to a wall, exploring how repetition changes the nature of the religious subject.
Watercolor sketch after Giorgio Morandi, Natura Morta
A watercolor sketch after Italian master Giorgio Morandi, of his Natura Morta, at the University of Iowa Museum of Art.
Sketch for a sculpture of Christ Crowned With Thorns after Bouts
A gouache sketch for a sculpture, after Bouts’ Christ Crowned With Thorns, in the Nelson Atkins museum of art. A mildly absurd, decorative copy of Albrecht Bouts’ work of 1495, including the original’s inseparable round frame. Conceived as a vacuform object and also as a dimensional, popup-like work on separate panels.
Oil sketch study after The Rommel-Pot Player by Frans Hals
An inadequate oil study after Frans Hals Rommel-Pot Player, at the Kimball Art Museum in Ft. Worth, Texas.
Pencil sketch of Mothers at Record Bar in Kansas City, October 24 2018
A pencil sketch of Mothers, playing at the Record Bar.
Pencil and watercolor sketch of Angolan Katayo mask from the Stanley Collection in Iowa City
Pencil and watercolor sketch of a striking and beautiful wooden Katayo mask ( Chokwe, early 20th c.) from the Stanley Collection in Iowa City. Additionally, a sketch of a “friction oracle”, and observations from the Neo Rauch show at the Des Moines Art Center.
Study of Napoleon bust, Beth
Pencil studies of the Sèvres Imperial cast after Antoine-Denis Chaudet bust of Napoleon, from the Nelson Atkins exhibition, Napoleon: Power and Splendor. Also, a quick sketch of chef Beth Barden.
Seated shooter gouache study
Pencil and gouache study for a larger painting. Seated midwestern outdoorsman with hunting gear and deer rifle. Also, a small sketch made at Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum, after “Flatstyle” master Monroe Tsatoke.
Megabog, Salty and Jean-François Ducis
A ballpoint pen and pink ink pen sketch of Megabog’s Erin Burgy, Salty’s Jonathan Brokaw. Pencil sketch of French author Jean-François Dupis.
Morning plein air watercolor looking west in Madras, Oregon
An early morning plein air watercolor made on the northern slope of Canyon Road in Madras, Oregon. Inset sketch of pottery and baskets from the nearby Museum at Warm Springs.
Sketchbook spread with seated shooter
A watercolor and gouache sketchbook spread with drawings of a foreground figure for a larger painting. Includes a sketch of Met curator Dr. Randall Griffey.
Watercolor of Old Chariton river near Callao, Missouri
A watercolor sketch from the river bank of the Old Chariton. The boys are near the center of the picture, walking down river far in the distance. It was a hot day, and the river was down pretty far. You couldn’t hear yourself think for the drone of the cicada.
Pencil portrait of singer Natalie Norman
A pencil portrait of singer Natalie Norman. 4b pencil and stump on cream watercolor board.
Gouache and pencil sketchbook page of Martin Shannon
A watercolor, gouache and pencil sketchbook page spread of the main character from my father’s book, Martin Shannon. Also, notes from my son’s first trip to Chicago: daily agends; restaurant recommendations from strangers at the Art Institute; observations of artworks (“Sargeant’s muted late Florida watercolor make the viewer imagine the missing light”); and so on.
Mount of the Holy Cross from Quandry trail in Colorado
A plein air watercolor and pencil sketch of the beautiful view from below Quandry peak, of the Mount of the Holy Cross. September 2018
Gouache portrait of artist Matthew Cook, and serratus study
A watercolor and gouache anatomy study of the serratus muscles, and of artist Matthew Cook.
Gouache sketch for Martin Shannon
A gouache sketch for my dad’s book, The Saga of Martin Shannon. This was the final sketch which I followed for the finished art.
Pencil sketch of John Buckley
A pencil portrait of my youngest son, John, in his Gi, awaiting a match.
Martin Shannon gulfcoast bookjacket sketches
Two watercolor sketch ideas for Dad’s bookjacket, but–while I like the feel–this wasn’t a good fit for the book content. Too tropical, too Robinson Crusoe.
Gouache sketch of terrified woman
Gouache and ink drawing of a woman screaming, a study for The Card Players.
Gouache and pencil sketch for a book jacket
A watercolor gouache sketch idea for historical novel Martin Shannon, by Robert Buckley.
Watercolor and ink sketch of photographer Eli Haman
A watercolor and ink portrait of Hallmark photographer Eli Haman.
Melancholy charcoal drawing
A watercolor, pencil and charcoal drawing of Melancholy, appropriate for Halloween.