Michael Hoffman

"Summer Waves" Multi Colored Target Painting with Luminous Effect

Born December 12, 1965 in New York City, Michael's father owned a fine art moving business and his mother was a playright/director. They were surrounded by a diverse crowd of artists,such as filmmaker Gary Galsworth and painter Charles Mingus Jr.. Michael’s family moved across the USA, living in Madison and Santa Fe, and finally settled on Whidbey Island in Washington State. He spent his teenage years clearing a six acre plot of land with his family and building a seven sided geodesic dome house. Michael attended The Evergreen State College from 1983-87, studying film and photography. After graduation he took his camera and, over a ten year period, traveled extensively throughout Europe. While travelling he lived with, performed with, and documented circus performers and their communities. With no formal education as a painter, Michael draws on his eclectic past for inspiration - strongly influenced by his travels throughout Spain and France and rich colors and textures marked by time. Michael moved to St. Louis in 2001, where he works as a full time artist and raises his daughter and twin boys - a lifetime dream. His artwork is collected by individuals and corporations worldwide. "My paintings are meditative studies done with rich colors and bold graphic compositions - I often incorporate circles, grids and stripes. The universality and appeal of this symbology pulls the viewer in and holds them there to explore the subtle details. I try to create work that both captivates and calms. I work with abstractions because I want to put forth something universal that can be open to interpretations that are unique to each individual and can continue to evolve over time. A common theme in my painting is the relationship between rigid linear form and the organic flow of nature, order and disorder. I feel this is reflective in many ways of our society and peoples’ longing for something more than the sterility of technology in our modern lives. I believe inclusion of these two elements creates a certain universal harmony in many of my paintings. My pieces are also about the act of painting itself. I explore the physical nature of my materials and push to use unique and original methods of applying them. Many times there is strong evidence of my physical relationship to the canvas as I paint - using my body motion as a natural pendulum and the random arcs of my markings. Other works are done on wood panels that I coat with a plaster mixture and carve into before it sets. The geometrical markings bring to mind old nautical maps...

"Blue Moment I" is a mixed media work on canvas, with abstract blocks of cool blue and a shock of expressive yellow. This piece is finished in. a custom frame. Pricing includes the...

"Fly 8" is a contemporary mixed media piece on panel by Anke. The piece shows flies that you would use for fly fishing splayed in a circle. The stark white background enables the viv...

"Fly 5" is a contemporary mixed media piece on panel by Anke. The piece shows flies that you would use for fly fishing splayed in a circle. The stark white background enables the viv...

Abstract painting with green encaustic and light yellow flower petals on wood panel "Wallpaper 2" made by Allyson Levy in 2020 encaustic and flower petals on wood panel, 24 x 24 x 2 ...

Neutral toned abstract painting of green plant leaves on a light beige cream colored encaustic background "Snowflowers 8," by Hudson Valley artist, Allyson Levy, made in 2020 spurge ...

Abstract painting made with light green encaustic and brown hemp leaves and branches resembling a tree Happanese, made by Allyson Levy in 2020 48 x 34 inches hemp leaves, branches, a...

Abstract encaustic painting with green and neutral toned plant leaves on white encaustic over wood panel "Euphorbic 15", made by Hudson Valley artist, Allyson Levy, in 2018 Encaustic...