Brace Michael
ONLINE GALLERY

Statement

My work has developed from things we see in our everyday lives. These things can vary from a large cityscape to a more intimate place such as a bus stop or phone box.

When I started to develop this body of work, I intended to observe items that I felt represented modern British culture, such as a red bus or a red phone box. These images showed something that could be an intimate personal moment, which I then portrayed on a large open scale by producing large paintings.

My work has now changed to representing ‘big’ scenes such as city skylines or interiors of stadiums during sporting events. These are large scale public areas and events that I am now painting on a smaller more personal scale in an attempt to personalise these moments.

Within the pictures internal construction I use oil or acrylic paint applied with a brush, stick or cardboard to give me solid, straight lines and definite angles. I like to represent light and reflection accurately within my work. I draw inspiration from places I have visited and places that have been shown to me, through films by artists such as Michael MANN, Steven SPEILBERG and Martin SCORSESE.

Exhibitions

2008 - Coventry University: 63 degrees Fine Art degree show.

Education

Coventry University
BA Media Studies and Fine Art (2005 – 2008)

The Knights Templar School
A level Fine Art (2002 – 2004)

The Knights Templar School
GCSE Art Graphics (2000 – 2002)

Biography

I have been painting for several years. My work has evolved through different interests ranging from images of animals, to portraits to still life and studies of form and tone. I started to draw and paint what I saw and how I thought it should look. I could use painting as a method of almost controlling what I saw and channeling it into a confined and detailed space that I had full control over.

I completed my studies at GCSE and A Level and went on to further education. I was awarded unconditional entry into Coventry Universities School of Fine Art. After completing my studies at Coventry University, and from attending exhibitions ranging from portraiture to landscape and craft I have started to further develop the area’s that I work in.

I am now exploring colour and light to try and add a further depth to my paintings. I like to try to have an affect on people’s sensibilities and feelings when they are looking at my work. This can be eliciting an emotional response, getting people talking or people walking away in disapproval. If I can get even the smallest response form people looking at my work, or indeed any art, I feel this is a positive thing.