Michael Ireland

Michael Ireland has participated in the creative process for over twenty-five years as a watercolorist/painter, musician, muralist and art director for stage, print, multimedia and film. He attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago where he studied painting under the direction of master watercolorist and instructor, Irving Shapiro for over three years. Upon leaving school, Michael proceeded to live the proverbial artist’s life. In other words he was a painter, bartender, farmer, college staff member, poet and cook finally settling down as a graphic designer and art director in the early eighties.

In 1987 he founded AVID Group, which became a leading design and corporate communications firm in the United States. Michael led AVID Group as Creative Director up until the firm was acquired in 2001

Throughout this whole period, Michael found time to continue to explore the effects of light and color through the medium of watercolor. His lifelong passion is now his lifelong career.

Artist’s Statement

“I've come to understand the true art of watercolor for me is within the painting process itself. It is the brush washing the paper with color, the colors merging upon the texture of the paper, the combination of techniques and lessons learned from painting and then painting even more. And hopefully, upon completion of the art, a "work" of art is produced. But that is not necessarily the point. It is the painting process itself that is so important.

Anymore, subject matter is increasing irrelevant. What matters the most is that the scene itself is a proper vehicle for practicing my stroke and increasing my understanding of the dynamics of the medium that I have chosen to work and explore.

My paintings are consistent in traditional transparent watercolor technique…working to achieve the balance of light and shadow through a transparent glazing wash, allowing the white of the paper to delineate any and all white areas of the scene itself. It becomes a very disciplined painting style that simultaneously works to deliver a result exuding both spontaneity and control.

Much of my work is executed in a fairly large scale and large format by transparent watercolor standards. I enjoy the challenge of reining in a huge wash and working over the full sheet with the sweep of each color pass and the ability to weave details of color all the while defining form within form. My goal is to create a piece that is as interesting up close as it is simple and strong from afar.

I have chosen to present many of my larger pieces without glass or matting, which in many ways defies the traditional concept of watercolor. Over the last four years, I have diligently worked on a process that archivally adheres paper to a solid substrate and is finished with an archival varnish eliminating the need for UV glass or Plexiglas. This process frees me to paint at a larger scale and size not normally associated with traditional transparent watercolor.

I hope you enjoy viewing the finished art works as much I have enjoyed painting them.” - Michael

Within the last few years I have participated in over 25 juried invitational shows, some of which include:

• Wells Street Art Festival/Chicago, IL (Best Of Painting)

• Gold Coast Art Fair/Chicago, IL

• Art on the Square/Madison, WI (2005 Invitational Artist)

• Art in The Barn/Barrington, IL

• One of a Kind Show/Chicago, IL

• Fort Worth Main Street Art Festival, Fort Worth, TX

• Port Clinton Art Festival, Highland Park, IL

• Art Fair at Laumier, St. Louis, MO