Michael Spence Art
MICHAEL SPENCE
Born in London, raised in Los Angeles.
As a child I loved to draw and paint. In high school I continued my art education. But after three years in the military and a few college art courses, I became enamored of photography and film making. I received a degree from Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara while simultaneously taking classes at the Santa Barbara Art Institute. This was followed by a career in the film business, primarily as a film editor and occasionally as a director.
A few years ago I decided to return to painting and began taking watercolor classes with Helen Groenekamp.
Eventually, I began working in acrylic paint and collage. I love the freedom and spontaneity of acrylic paint and the excitement of found objects such as bits and pieces of cardboard, old photographs, discarded paper and metal.
Most of my work begins with a vague idea that becomes more fully formed as I paint, creating something new and often quite different from what I had intended. How this happens is a mystery to me but a mystery that I accept and revel in.
Exhibitions:
Oregon Society of Artists, members show, Portland OR 2023
Vancouver Music and Arts Festival, Vancouver WA 2023
LA Art Show-bG Gallery Gestalt Project
Los Angeles, CA, 2019
144 Space, A New Gestalt Project-bG Gallery, Santa Monica, CA August 2018
"Constructed" 13 Los Angeles Artists represented by Saatchi Art, Santa Monica, CA, 2018
Brentwood Art Festival, 2016, Brentwood, CA
Brentwood Art Festival, 2015, Brentwood, CA
Born in London, raised in Los Angeles.
Born in London, raised in Los Angeles.
As a child I loved to draw and paint. Later, in high school, I continued my art education. But after three years in the military I became enamored of photography and filmmaking. I received a degree from Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara while simultaneously taking classes at the Santa Barbara Art I
Born in London, raised in Los Angeles.
As a child I loved to draw and paint. Later, in high school, I continued my art education. But after three years in the military I became enamored of photography and filmmaking. I received a degree from Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara while simultaneously taking classes at the Santa Barbara Art Institute, followed by a long career in the film business, primarily as an editor and occasionally as a director.
A few years ago I decided to return to my first love and began taking watercolor classes with Helen Groenekamp. Eventually, I discovered acrylic paint and collage.
I love the freedom and spontaneity of acrylic paint. The work I am doing now centers on the landscape. Recently, I spent time walking along the seashore and the rolling hills of Sonoma County in northern California, absorbing the quiet beauty, taking reference photos which become paintings in my studio.
I am not interested in photographic reproductions of nature but in the essence of landscapes, sometimes inspired by combining different reference photos or entirely imagined. J.M.W. Turner, Van Gogh and Cezanne all influence my paintings.
Most of my work begins with a vague idea that becomes more fully formed as I paint, creating something new and often quite different from what I had intended. How this happens is a mystery to me but a mystery that I except wholeheartedly and revel in.
Michael Spence
Mhspence1@roadrunner.com
nstitute, followed by a long career in the film business, primarily as an editor and occasionally as a director.
A few years ago I decided to return to my first love and began taking watercolor classes with Helen Groenekamp. Eventually, I discovered acrylic paint and collage.
I love the freedom and spontaneity of acrylic paint. The work I am doing now centers on the landscape. Recently, I spent time walking along the seashore and the rolling hills of Sonoma County in northern California, absorbing the quiet beauty, taking reference photos which become paintings in my studio.
I am not interested in photographic reproductions of nature but in the essence of landscapes, sometimes inspired by combining different reference photos or entirely imagined. J.M.W. Turner, Van Gogh and Cezanne all influence my paintings.
Most of my work begins with a vague idea that becomes more fully formed as I paint, creating something new and often quite different from what I had intended. How this happens is a mystery to me but a mystery that I except wholeheartedly and revel in.
Michael Spence
Mhspence1@roadrunner.com
As a child I loved to draw and paint. Later, in high school, I continued my art education. But after three years in the military I became enamored of photography and filmmaking. I received a degree from Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara while simultaneously taking classes at the Santa Barbara Art Institute, followed by a long career in the film business, primarily as an editor and occasionally as a director.
A few years ago I decided to return to my first love and began taking watercolor classes with Helen Groenekamp. Eventually, I discovered acrylic paint and collage.
I love the freedom and spontaneity of acrylic paint. The work I am doing now centers on the landscape. Recently, I spent time walking along the seashore and the rolling hills of Sonoma County in northern California, absorbing the quiet beauty, taking reference photos which become paintings in my studio.
I am not interested in photographic reproductions of nature but in the essence of landscapes, sometimes inspired by combining different reference photos or entirely imagined. J.M.W. Turner, Van Gogh and Cezanne all influence my paintings.
Most of my work begins with a vague idea that becomes more fully formed as I paint, creating something new and often quite different from what I had intended. How this happens is a mystery to me but a mystery that I except wholeheartedly and revel in.
Michael Spence