Michál Smiglowski

Originally from Nottingham, England, but now a resident of the Maine seacoast, I work out of my studio in York Harbor.

As a creative I love to explore artistic ways to express my love of the seacoast and the individuals I’ve met along the way. Each of my pieces tells an intriguing story about the character of both the people and the place.

My two main types of art are Portraiture and and exploring PaperWorks.

Portraiture

Drawings in graphite, in a realistic, chiaroscuro style, with emphasis on composition, lighting and detail. Portraits of historical figures, people of intrigue, illustrations and commissions. I am mostly self taught as a portrait artist, but am forever reading and looking at magazines and books, visiting galleries and museums for knowledge and inspiration.

Over the years my portraiture has been honored with both national and local awards:

• Finalist – American Society of Portrait Artists (Portrait Society of America) Annual Juried Show • Second Place Winner – Artists Magazine – Drawing Category
• Best of Illustration and Best of Show – New Hampshire Creative Club
• Featured Artist – NorthLight Magazine

Other shows and opportunities include, the Manchester Institute of Arts; the Gallery at 100 Market Street, Portsmouth NH; Hopkinton and Loudon, NH Libraries; the Francesca Anderson Fine Art Gallery, Lexington, MA; and the Portsmouth, NH and York, ME Art Associations.

PaperWorks

Hand-crafted designs, with cut, layered and textured paper, set in relief and mounted on beautiful barn board and other wood products. They are accented with color and embellished with imaginative detail. Each piece depicting a story of island life.

AND

On-going Creative Expressions

Learning new techniques and art forms is part of my creative process. I really enjoy figuring out ways and materials to realize unique and artistic solutions. This has led me to create paper tepees, dioramas, portraits of wild animals and whales in graphite and colored pencil. Even walking sticks. Unearthing the roots to see what shape or figure can be exposed within the handle. And, I have yet another idea that I’m developing, once again something entirely original. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention my coastal photography.

So I am “One Man with Many Art Forms”, forever changing.