Like writing, I make artwork because it’s my way of transferring thoughts and emotions. Art tells my story when words escape me. I create my artwork because it’s a culmination of my thoughts and experience and I have to get it out of my head or risk constantly thinking about it.

I am inspired by other artists of many kinds of artwork and styles. Sometimes I focus on technique, but a great painting, drawing or sculpture moves and flows. It leads you into it and holds your attention. I take time to appreciate that which pleases my senses.

Nature has to be my biggest influence. It draws me to try and capture the moment, and I often find myself driving along the road appreciating the scenery and wondering if I’ll ever get a chance to paint the scene. If I’m able to I’ll take a photo of it and save it for later, seeing it if captured what I remember.

I rarely believe a painting is done or that I “nailed it”, rather I look at each of my paintings as being one step closer to being my best. My decades of creating and working with art materials has given me a keen sense of process, and when painting I use this experience to create the artwork.

In my poured paintings, I use mediums that I understand how to set them up and lay them down in such a way that there is controlled chaos. I pull together the materials in the right sequence and allow them to come together and create something amazing. Then I think about what I did and how I can set it up even better for the next painting and off I go again.

-Michael S. Townsend