Michael Parker is an artist skilled in palette knife painting.

His use of colours in oil paint, and his unusual abstract style, has made him ever more popular with the public. He rarely uses brushes, and has been painting all his life, specialising in figurative art.

I have been painting all my life. I now realise that I was on an apprenticeship of learning the skills, and the knowledge of painting in different mediums. Finally settling with oil paint, which is by far my favourite.

I am self-taught and my early works were “trompe l’oeil”, a French term meaning “to deceive the eye”; a technique of attempting to create an optical illusion in oil paint. This was very hard edged brushwork, but it taught me the meaning of form.

After many years of developing my own style and technique, I eventually progressed to working with large palette knives.

I believe the skill of using them came from my profession as a builder, plasterer, bricklayer, and developer.

Having now found interest in colour relativity, I have changed my palette to a joyful set of colours bringing in violets, cadmium hues, reds, greens and blues to my paintings. My knives give me the opportunity to create a scene of abstract fragments depicting the scene but not in its perfect form. I paint in the “plein air” as much as in my studio.

I first start with an idea and draw the composition. Then I begin applying paint in large bold strokes to the background. My intention is to be deliberately strong and well placed with my strokes. I cannot go back. And what develops is there for the eye to behold. I work wet into wet and when entering my figures I have one chance – changing in mid-stream may ruin all that I have created in the background.

I enjoy painting most human figures, animals, and also still life, But the horse is my favourite. I strive to achieve movement in my paintings, even within the static still lives,  conjuring up the excitement of all life. Bathed in light from any particular angle. Having now won many local competitions throughout the South of England. I have moved on to also sell my work in print form.

I live in Dorset, and my work can be found in different counties throughout England, and also in Europe.

I am always available for Palette knife demonstrations to art societies and clubs, and also painting workshop days.

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