http://www.painters-online.co.uk artistMay 2020 19
TASo with this unique technique, who
is Michael inspired by? ‘I love the
Impressionists and Van Gogh; I also
love Picasso, Gustav Klimt and, when I
was younger, Kurt Jackson.’
Making and exhibiting
Michael never takes commissions. ‘If I
don't have the urge to paint something,
then I don't really want to paint it as
it probably won't be any good if there
is no passion behind it. I love what I
do.’ In a similar way, he says he's not
entering competitions at the moment.
‘I really just want to get stuck into
making and exhibiting without having
to worry about keeping certain works
aside for prizes and then driving them
around the country in the hope they get
accepted. Competitions have certainly
helped me in the past, though; I chose
those that best suited my work and, if
p North Westerly No. 5, oil and acrylic on canvas, 421/2 3 801/4in (108 3 204cm).
‘The north coast of France – this was the 7th attempt, and by far the best. It’s very loose and I
love the emerald green, which is one of my favourite colours and why I was inspired to paint it in
the first place and tried to get it right so many times!’
they were prestigious as well, that was
a bonus.
‘My work is exhibited, however. It gets
taken to major art fairs around the world
including Hong Kong, Singapore and
London by Marine House at Beer, which
means there are no restrictions on me
at all, I just need to be inspired and
productive. This year I am exhibiting
in France and Sweden as I want my
paintings to be seen by a larger and
different audience.
‘I also put on my own pop-up
exhibitions, which I thoroughly enjoy.
Working on the business side really
interests me, too; within the next ten
years I hope to become less involved
in painting, taking a back seat to the
idea of Involuntarylism and having the
confidence to let go into the realms
of abstraction. We'll see – it may take
longer with my method of evolution!’Michael Sole
has a BA in Fine Art from Wimbledon
College of Art and has exhibited in group
and solo shows across England, France
and America. Awards include the Arts
Club Charitable Trust Award and Young
Artist of the Year (two years running)
at the Royal Society of Marine Artists’
annual exhibition; he was a finalist for the
Dorset Landscape Painter of the Year, the
Global Art Award and the National Open
Art Competition, where he won the One
Month Residency Award.
http://www.michaelsole.co.uk