Michael Freeman
New Zealand
Michael is an international award winning New Zealand artist who has had a fascination with realism since childhood. His chosen medium is pastel with which he strives to create images with greater depth and feeling than can be achieved in a photograph.
Michael is in the Master Circle of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS/MC), a Master Pastelist of Pastel Artists of New Zealand (MPANZ), a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA), and has a Master of Fine Arts degree (MFA) from the University of Illinois.
Michael went to Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, to be a painter and left a product designer. However after a successful design career in 2010 he decided to return to his passion for painting. Starting initially with acrylics, before discovering the wonderful medium of pastel – which suits his hyperrealistic style and love of detail.
Michael’s subjects range from his current series of still life paintings exploring trompe l’oeil and incorporating iconic New Zealand toys and objects, through - landscapes featuring old weathered sheds, barns, railway carriages, windows and doors, rusty old locks – all inspired from photographic trips along New Zealand's roads.
* This statement has been provided directly by the artist in association to their 16th International ARC Salon entries. This content has not been edited for typos or grammatical errors and has not been vetted for accuracy.