MICHAEL WHELAN

IF SIX WAS NINE (2010) by Michael Whelan

(via theartofmichaelwhelan)

BREAKING US IN TWO (2010) by Michael Whelan

Acrylic - 8” x 6”

Michael Whelan’s facility with texture is ridiculous. Consider the size of the piece and the detail of flaking paint over rusting, pitted metal and the viewer begins to understand the artist’s skill and obsession. The strip of masking tape adds to a tactile experience that transcends words.

This small painting began like most in the “Signs of the Times” subset, as a morning warmup exercise. Hard to believe it isn’t a photograph, but simply acrylic paint on smooth panel.

(via theartofmichaelwhelan)

FIVE TO ONE (2010) by Michael Whelan

Acrylic on Panel- 30” x 24”

Watching Michael Whelan out in the world is like watching a sponge soak up liquid. He’s constantly observing and always packing a camera to document references for future paintings.

He has a particularly keen eye for textures, which I witnessed on a walk at Danbury High School a few years ago. A patch of rust on a construction dumpster caught his attention that day, but clearly he’d been thinking about it for awhile.

(via theartofmichaelwhelan)