Our Fellow Artists: Michael Creese

"Paint" by Michael Creese

Artist Michael Creese has created a body of work that is simultaneously striking and meditative, inviting the viewer to imagine the world slightly differently.  Whether in compositions showing the creative process, or exploring the human psyche through intensely dramatic portraits, his paintings are at times almost three-dimensional, even in print form, because of the thick strokes he employs to create these colorful canvas worlds.

"Pandora" by Michael Creese

"Color and composition are two key elements to my creative process, but the application of paint is perhaps the single most important factor in defining my style, from loose brush strokes and rich texture to an almost frenzied use of palette knife marks. The colors that I use are frequently blended directly on the painting, adding liveliness through visibly distinct transitions in color and shade." 
~michaelcreese.com

Creese's paintings as part of a designer collection

Creese has quite a prolific career as an artist, having developed that much-sought-after balance of unique compositions and marketable paintings.  He has a long list of gallery exhibitions to his credit, including showings in places like New York and Pennsylvania.  His work has been reproduced and sold as ceramic and marble tile murals.  He has even had art used in a set design for an SNL comedy skit.  But what's more impressive is his ability to consistently create interesting paintings with an instantly recognizable style.  A visit to Creese's print gallery is almost a walk through the subconscious, full of impressionistic portraits and landscapes that seem to be hovering between two worlds, always characterized by cloudy, dreamlike whites and deep, thoughtful accents of color.

"Origami Rose" by Michael Creese

I asked Creese about his life as an artist, wondering how he reconciles his surreal style with practical process:

Do you draw any inspiration from your surroundings?
Pretty much everything. TV, print, internet, and everyday life. It's all around.

How do you promote your work?
I sell originals on eBay and at Starbucks, and I also sell prints through various print-on-demand sites such as Imagekind.com I have also had my prints sold in major retail stores. Imagekind is a great place to display your work and get it noticed by gallery owners and print publishers at the same time.

What's the best and worst thing about being an artist?
The best thing is that it gives you a real purpose in life. It's great meditative and reflective time. The worst would be that you can't put down the brush and your social life therefore suffers due to this. You sometimes lose track of normal existence.


You can see more of Michael Creese's work at his personal website or at his prints site.