American painter Michael Carson studied design at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design before becoming a fine artist. He didn’t start painting until several years after graduating in 1996, now creating paintings with an atmospheric realism inspired by Norman Rockwell, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and John Singer Sargent.
For Carson, who was born and raised in Minneapolis and is now based in Arizona, every work is a chance to explore the interplay of color and light. Carson is also fascinated by texture, with how the movement of the brush guides the eye and can drastically alter the mood of a painting. “I like the fact that the face can be such a subtle subject, and one brushstroke can be the difference in the feel of the entire piece,” he has stated.
As a figurative painter and visual storyteller in the mold of Joseph Lorusso, Carson often focuses on solitary women, particularly concentrating on fashion and settings like nightclubs and cafés, embodying the mood of a moment. Never objectified, his subjects and especially the depth of their facial expressions reflect Carson’s desire to follow in French painter Toulouse-Lautrec’s footsteps and “just exist and observe and create,” as he told Resident magazine. Music is a major influence, with Carson borrowing song lyrics for titles and painting the cover of American singer-songwriter Matt Berninger’s 2020 album Serpentine Prison.
Allowing globs of paint to trail down the canvas, Carson wipes away colors to create a translucent glaze, layering patterns and figures to ghostly effect. These techniques are aimed at shifting viewer perspective and encouraging a closer look at the detailed brushwork and what’s happening just under the surface of his muted palettes.
Find Michael Carson’s art on 1stDibs.
"Red Tights" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Red Tights" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting and is framed in a black float frame and is ready to hang. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a M...
Oil, Wood Panel
"Italian Chair" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Italian Chair" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting and is framed in a black float frame. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painte...
Oil, Wood Panel
"Smoking Jacket"
By Michael Carson
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, whose artwork can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the Unite...
Oil, Wood Panel
"Charades"
By Michael Carson
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, whose artwork can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the Unite...
Oil, Wood Panel
"All Roads Lead Home" Original Oil Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "All Roads Lead Home" is an original, handmade oil painting that is framed in a black float frame. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painte...
Oil, Wood Panel
$15,000
"Gent"
By Michael Carson
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
“My work is first and foremost figurative studies. It’s what I like to paint, my biggest challenge and my greatest payoff. My nondescript surroundings help me create a mood or a stor...
Canvas, Oil
"Land" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Land" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis College of A...
Oil, Wood Panel
"Watcher" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Watcher" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting. This beautiful, handcrafted oil painting rests at 30 x 22", a...
Oil, Wood Panel
"Tacchi a Spillo"
By Michael Carson
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
“My work is first and foremost figurative studies. It’s what I like to paint, my biggest challenge and my greatest payoff. My nondescript surroundings help me create a mood or a stor...
Oil, Wood Panel
$30,000
"Calze"
By Michael Carson
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
“My work is first and foremost figurative studies. It’s what I like to paint, my biggest challenge and my greatest payoff. My nondescript surroundings help me create a mood or a stor...
Oil, Wood Panel
$12,000
"Portrait of Britt Daniel, " Original Oil Painting with Resin by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Portrait of Britt Daniel" is an original, handmade oil painting. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis...
Oil, Wood Panel
Price Upon Request
"Full Circle"
By Michael Carson
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, whose artwork can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the Unite...
Oil, Wood Panel
$1,293
H 5.91 in W 7.88 in D 1.19 in
Landscape 05 - 21st Century Contemporary Impressionistic Landscape Painting
By Frank Dekkers
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Frank Dekkers Landscape 05 15 x 20 cm (framed, included in price 20 x 25 cm) oil on Panel About the artist: Frank Dekkers, an outdoor painter, but not a "square painter" as we know...
Oil, Wood Panel
$18,137
H 20 in W 14 in
La Parisienne - Impressionist Portrait Oil Painting by Jean Beraud
By Jean Beraud 1
Located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Signed full length portrait circa 1890 by French impressionist painter Jean Beraud. The work depicts a Parisian lady in a green tuile skirt, a blue jacket with fur and black lace up ...
Oil, Panel
$1,294
H 5.91 in W 7.88 in D 1.19 in
Landscape 14 - 21st Century Contemporary Impressionistic Landscape Painting
By Frank Dekkers
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Frank Dekkers Landscape 14 15 x 20 cm (framed, included in price 20 x 25 cm) oil on Panel About the artist: Frank Dekkers, an outdoor painter, but not a "square painter" as we know...
Oil, Wood Panel
$1,293
H 5.91 in W 7.88 in D 1.19 in
Landscape 16 - 21st Century Contemporary Impressionistic Landscape Painting
By Frank Dekkers
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Frank Dekkers Landscape 16 15 x 20 cm (framed, included in price 20 x 25 cm) oil on Panel About the artist: Frank Dekkers, an outdoor painter, but not a "square painter" as we know...
Oil, Wood Panel
$750
H 10 in W 8 in D 0.5 in
"Rye", Small-Scale Contemporary Oil Painting of a Cat
By Kay Seohyung Lee
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Rye" is an original piece by Kay Seohyung Lee made from oil on panel. This piece measures 10"h x 8"w x 0.5"d and comes with a gallery-issued Certificate of Authenticity and is signe...
Oil, Wood Panel
"Mood in Orange, " Oil Painting
By Suchitra Bhosle
Located in Denver, CO
Suchitra Bhosle's "Mood in Orange" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a dark haired woman, in vivid orange clothing, tilting her head a...
Oil, Panel
$585
H 11.82 in W 23.63 in D 0.4 in
October in the Venice Lagoon - Oil Paint by Pino Romanò - 1990s
By Pino Romanò
Located in Roma, IT
Oil on canvas realized by Pino Romanò (1934) in 1990s. Hand signed. Titled on rear. Very good condition.
Canvas, Oil
$1,293
H 5.91 in W 7.88 in D 1.19 in
Landscape 10 - 21st Century Contemporary Impressionistic Landscape Painting
By Frank Dekkers
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Frank Dekkers Landscape 10 15 x 20 cm (framed, included in price 20 x 25 cm) oil on Panel About the artist: Frank Dekkers, an outdoor painter, but not a "square painter" as we know...
Oil, Wood Panel
$3,850
H 19 in W 13 in D 2 in
"EL SANTO FRISCO" Figurative Painting 19" x 13" inch by Isaac Pelayo
By Isaac Pelayo
Located in Culver City, CA
"EL SANTO FRISCO" Figurative Painting 19" x 13" inch by Isaac Pelayo Medium: Oil and aerosol on wood panel ABOUT THE ARTIST: Isaac Pelayo is a head on crash collision between The...
Oil, Spray Paint, Wood Panel
$4,850
H 29.14 in W 38.98 in D 1.19 in
Oxford Street - original impressionism oil painting-contemporary Art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Oil, Panel
$4,870
H 23.63 in W 31.5 in D 1.19 in
Rain - 21st Century Contemporary Impressionistic Landscape Painting
By Frank Dekkers
Located in Nuenen, Noord Brabant
Frank Dekkers Rain 60 x 80 cm (framed, included in price 77 x 97 cm) oil on Panel About the artist: Frank Dekkers, an outdoor painter, but not a "square painter" as we know him. Hi...
Oil, Wood Panel
$4,850
H 29.14 in W 38.98 in D 1.19 in
Bloomsbury - original impressionism oil painting-contemporary Art
By Michael Alford
Located in London, Chelsea
We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...
Oil, Panel
"Verðandi" (2025) Oil Portrait Painting on Panel
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Verandi (the "" is pronounced like a "th") is one of the Norse fates. She is the allotter of time, the winder, and the one that determines how long ones thread will be in the tapestr...
Oil, Panel
"Slant"
By Michael Carson
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
"Slant" is a captivating figurative oil painting that evokes the serenity of a coastal escape. Set against a palette of soft light blues and sun-washed tans, the composition features...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 26 in W 20 in
"Holding" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Holding" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis College o...
Oil, Wood Panel
Sold
H 26 in W 20 in
"Proposition" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Proposition" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis Colle...
Oil, Wood Panel
Sold
H 50 in W 38 in
"Purgatory Heaven" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Purgatory Heaven" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis ...
Oil, Wood Panel
Sold
H 24 in W 18 in
"Resigned" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Resigned" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting that is framed in a black float frame. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, a...
Oil, Wood Panel
Sold
H 30 in W 20 in
"Stolen" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Stolen" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis College of...
Oil, Wood Panel
Sold
H 22 in W 32 in
"The Cicadas" (2024) Original Oil Animal Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "The Cicadas" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis Colle...
Oil, Wood Panel
Sold
H 50 in W 38 in
"Dimensional" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Dimensional" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis Colle...
Oil, Wood Panel
"Pieces"
By Michael Carson
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, whose artwork can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the Unite...
Oil, Wood Panel
"Float"
By Michael Carson
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, whose artwork can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the Unite...
Resin, Oil
"Woman in Blue"
By Michael Carson
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, whose artwork can be found in private and corporate collections throughout the Unite...
Oil, Panel