Mom & Dad

Another painting that I finished for the holidays was for my parents. It depicts a moment of them on their missions that they served for the LDS church many years ago. My Dad was called to open the country of Spain(no missionaries had been allowed in the country prior) and my mother was going to have an operation. Their mission president Richard G. Scott arranged for them to meet at the air port for a couple of hours before they both headed off to their new life adventures. It was really fun to paint because of how many times everyone in my family has heard this story. I wasn't just putting paint down on a canvas I was capturing Michalek history with my brush. I felt more connected with the importance of the moment and what they were doing then ever before.

I'm working on refining my art,wanting to create a painting that is well balanced & complete. That doesn't necessarily mean putting paint to cover the whole canvas, or adding more pretty colors. It will mean something different for every painting. What it means to me and what I want to achieve is a painting that looks and feels complete, so that when someone looks at it their thoughts are of the memory the painting sparks or how it makes them feel. Not brush strokes or color choices. Those are the things I'm thinking about during the painting process so that the viewer doesn't have to. Let me know what you think!

Christmas Painting

This year for Christmas several people commissioned paintings. I wanted to share some photos of one of the paintings I did for family friend in Idaho. After some conversations with the soon to be owners of a new painting, we decided that a painting of the Grand Canal in Italy would be the perfect thing. The painting was completed just days before Christmas and was shipped wet to Idaho. I really like how it turned out. Another opportunity for me to relax and allow my brush work to be loose and free.

It is the first time I completed a painting and didn't have a chance to enjoy it. Only hours after I signed my name it was already framed, boxed and ready to travel. I have to admit it was hard to say goodbye. I feel one of the reasons why people enjoy my art work is when I paint I'm not just painting a boat, a face or a landscape, I'm also painting a part of myself. So it's hard to let go of something I feel is a part of me. My reward is being able to share what I see with people, allowing them to see through my eyes, and that there's beauty in everything.

Elizabeth also took some photos of me while I was painting one day. There isn't too many photos of me in the act of painting so I thought I would add a couple of those as well.

Click To Enlarge For Details

Finally Some Recognition!

Well most artists have to wait till they are dead to become fully appreciated. However as you can see I'm finally getting some well deserved recognition. These are my paintings displayed at the world famous Louvre in Paris. It was pretty tough to get in (there is a long waiting list, at least a couple hundred years) but I talked with some people, who know some people that scammed some people. Anyway let me know what you think, it's obvious the asian group in the second photos really liked my stuff.

I know,... it's been a while

Anyway, I haven't finished anything since the boats painting, but I wanted to post something so decided to share some paintings that I have made a lot of progress on. I decided to post photos of how these paintings used to look so you can see the changes I have made.

The African school girl painting was the first oil painting I ever attempted. I've really changed some things in the last 4 years!

This is the original one from 4 years ago.

Here is the more recent one



It has really been a long while since I have posted something on the blog. That could be because it's been a while since I've picked up a paintbrush. Since Kimball was born (my son) I haven't had anytime to paint. I have been working like a mad man. I feel most fathers are responsible people, having realized that I knew I was in big trouble! So I figured I'll just pretend and see if it grows on me. This is the only thing I have worked on since he was born.

The female figure was also the first figure oil painting I'd ever done, this time around I decided to drop the abstract background I've began work on what I actually saw the day I sketched it. I like it better.


Things at work are hopefully going to clear up for me in the near future and I can get back to painting at night like I used to. Anyway like always hope you like it cause if you don't, too bad for me!

Italian Boats

If you know me or how I do Art, you'll know that I'm always looking to do something new or different with my art. I haven't found "my style" so the search is always on. Scenic paintings are usually not my thing because I get so caught up in the million details that are normally present in any real life setting. I have never been able to let myself let go, or leave out some of those details. My mind says "there it is so paint it just the way you see it",... that's not always good advice I give myself. It was a real stretch for me but here it is, a landscape of sorts without "The Details" don don don!!! I hope you like it, cause if you don't there's nothing I can do about it.

A Painting in a Day,... or two

I really wanted to start and finish an oil painting in one night. Sometimes a painting can take months - that's a good thing, and bad at the same time. I'm not really sure how to describe it, but sometimes when I'm painting I get so caught up in the colors, shapes, textures that I loose sight of what I'm painting. I don't see the face anymore, the buildings, the tree. I then need to step away and leave the painting for another time. On occasion some of the passion for the oil painting gets lost, making it hard for me to finish, extending the duration for a completed work of art even more.

The thought of starting something and finishing it in one night is quite refreshing. Perhaps the end product is not as refined as it could be however, it's the rough powerful brush strokes that make it interesting as well; more passionate in a way. Having said that, it also has a lot more flaws. Anyway here is a dirty faced little boy I painted in a day,... or two.

Have you ever wondered where the great artistic masterpieces are created?

If I asked myself that questions I wouldnt know the answer. My guess would be somewhere in Europe... but here is the place where it all happens for me. This is really the first time that I have had my own space; It is nothing fancy - my easel, desk, a few lights and a cd player. I have recently made some modifications to make it more comfortable and functional so that the focus is my art work and nothing else.

When we move into our 90 year old home there was a desk in the basement made from an old crate that was originally a "Utah Cracker Factory" crakers box. I spent a Saturday converting it into an ideal working space and it's now my favorite thing in the studio.




When I was thinking about posting these photos to show everyone where it is that I paint, my wife said that she always wondered about the behind the scenes of artists like - where was it that the Beatles wrote their first hit song, or how some of the worlds great inventions came about? And so here is a glimpse into the place where my tubes of paint become a painting.

Figure Drawings

Figure drawing is one of the truest forms of art; a true test of an artist. The human body is incredibly interesting to look at. Sometimes people get stuck on the fact that a model is naked (especially in Utah). Those people are missing out when they can't look past "the naked" to see something so interesting and complex.

Recently I have been focused on my oil paintings, but figure drawing is always a top priority and on the forefront of my mind. The human body is the most complex and beautiful thing on earth. As an artist there are a lot of ways to cut corners or hide flaws, except when drawing from life. It is the best way to keep your skills sharp; besides the fact that it is beautiful and complex.

These are a few of the figure drawings that I have done. All were done in 2 hour sessions.


I drew this one Saturday morning at the Springville Art Museum. Everyone was there ready to draw but the model hadn't shown up. This happens sometimes and usually means we are out of luck. One of the artist, that looked really young said "I'll pose." My first thought was "Whatever kid this is a live, nude, figure drawing class - does your mom even know you are here?" But, before I had even finished my thought there he was completely in the buff and ended up being really good at posing too. I don't care who you are it takes a lot of guts to drop your pants in front of 40 complete strangers. I ran out of my regular newsprint and had to use a paperboard that I happened to have. It created a rough texture which at first I didn't like but it ended up being one of my favorite parts of this drawing. Now I actually prefer rougher paper.




This model is named Abu, a BYU student, and a really funny guy. He said that he never set foot in a gym in his life. He had incredibly defined muscles, as you can see in the drawing. I was a bit ambitious and was trying to do a very large drawing in a short amount of time. Here is the completed part.


As I mentioned before most of these were done in 2 hour sessions and are generally more for practice rather then to have a finished product. This is one that I was actually able to finish.



I like how pretty some of these lines are. I was really impressed with how this model could hold this pose for so long. Although I wish I had time to finish her hands, I like how simple they look with the idea of them being there.


I drew this figure drawing at Provo Art & Frame. She was Native American. For some reason my favorite poses are when the model is reclining.

Finally Finished

Well, here is the Painting of the old catholic woman, I finally finished.

Something New

I'm working the african school girl again but trying something new, let me know what you think.



I've also done a little more work on my grandfathers beehive painting

Scenic

Portraits

Figurative

Animals