Michael painted irregularly from 1988 onwards but since 2003 has painted almost daily. He is a member ofSutherland Shire Art Society, Southern Cross Art Group, St George Art Society and Hastings Valley Fine Art Association. He regularly paints “en plein air” with his fellow artists, but mostly in his home studio, “Kurrajong”. His favoured medium is “oil on canvas”, doing landscapes and seascapes but he also paints portraits and still life. He has completed a growing number of commissions including two large murals.

He won 1st Place in the Acrylics Section of the 2007 Sutherland Shire Festival of Arts & Crafts. He won 2nd Place in the Oils Section of the 2010 Annual Art Exhibition at Waterbrook, Miranda. He judged the 2009 Sutherland Shire Festival of Arts & Crafts (eleven categories). His work has been hung at Sutherland Art Gallery, Art Gallery-Kurnell and Timbertown Gallery at Wauchope. He exhibits in local art shows and has sold over 130 paintings to date. In his use of colour and style he aims to express his feelings about the Australian landscape and way of life. He loves to capture iconic, local features and everyday scenes such as those seen along the railway line, that others pass by without noticing. Historic rural subjects such as shearing sheds, grain silos, derelict farmhouses and harvesting time are a recent interest.

His style embraces both the traditional and impressionist. He is part of a cooperative of ten artists who set up Art Gallery-Kurnell in 2008
and continues to sell there.

Tuition:
2010: National Art School - Summer School - Master Painting with Roger Crawford
2009: Paul McCarthy’s 3-day workshop concentrating on Paul’s special style.
2006: 3-day workshop on the impressionist method under John Corby.
2005: 3-day painting workshop at Merroo, Kurrajong under John Perkins and Paul McCarthy.
2004: Workshops by Graham Cox and Julie Goldspink at Laurieton, NSW.
2001: Cartooning course by correspondence. His sense of humour allows him to notice quirky little events and he has had several cartoons published in newspapers.
1988/9: His main training was at Gymea TAFE College, Sydney, where he completed a two-year part-time Certificate in Painting course.
1977: His very first “brush with oils” occurred when he attended painting classes at Newcastle TAFE College.

Early Days: Although as a young person he did not draw any more than the average, he was very interested in photography. He took the majority of the family photographs and also looked for special effects in rural subjects and in structures such as bridges and buildings. These photos were in black and white and were developed and printed in the kitchen sink using a Kodak Home Developing Kit. He also practised lapidary, making and selling pendants and other
jewellery.

He started experimenting with drawing and sketching techniques while attending university for his Engineering and Science degrees in the 1960s when he should have been studying. Later on he created ‘home-made’ paper from scrap paper. His artistic leanings also showed in the fact that he made beautiful jewellery such as cuff links, tiepins, bracelets and necklaces by enamelling. He has written a children’s storybook, a number of poems and is currently working on his autobiography.

Ambition: His aim is to gain wider recognition as a Sydney artist. He continues to sell regularly and is hung in a growing number of homes both here and overseas.

He has been married to Lorraine since 1968 and has three grown up children and three grandchildren.

You can visit his website at: www.australianartist.net

Last revised: 26 March 2010

At the easel

South Beach Walkway

Just a Glimpse

Sailing on Sydney Harbour

Fire and Water

The Esplanade, Cronulla