Studio and Outdoor (Plein Air) Work

Mike is an artist who regularly paints landscapes primarily from plein air studies and western themed oil paintings in his studio in the Sierra foothills of Northern California.  His painting technique is alla prima in that most of his paintings are painted wet into wet paint.  His favorite painting locations are in the beautiful mountains of California as well as the awe-inspiring Northern California coast above Big Sur. 

Mike has won many awards and honors in National and International level art competitions.  His most recent award is the Regional Winner of Region 3 in the 2010 National Paint The Parks Top 100 Competition.  He has also shown his paintings in many prestigious group shows in Museums and quality art galleries throughout the United States.  Mike has an affinity for painting images of working cowboys and their favorite animals:  Horses and Cows.  He doesnt know where this came from but recalls his childhood when he loved all of those old westerns with some of the greatest cowboys ever:  Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hoppalong Cassidy and the Lone Ranger and Tonto.

"Welcome to my site.  I hope you enjoy viewing my paintings of some of the most interesting subjects and beautiful places on earth.  Please Email me your comments and join my Email group or my Blog site or look for me on Facebook if you would like updates on my art activities"

The painting noted above is a plein air painting that later was used as the image for a large studio painting containing a cowboy and livestock entitled "Ole Red Barn".  Its located in the western theme collection of my web site and is an example of my primary painting emphasis. 

Please also check out my studio painting demonstration (Cows) and my plein air demonstration (Fall river scene) noted above where you can see my techniques in living color!  Don't forget to let me know if you would be interested in learning these techniques first hand in a workshop.