TAWA at 45
The Exhibition
Howard Michaels
Ruby Lights (Sade)
hand cut stencils, spray, acrylic paint on birchwood panel, 2023; 30″h x 24″w
As a retired NJ public school art teacher, Howard Michaels (twinpoppictures.com) has always maintained his persona as a practicing fine artist throughout his career. Born and raised in Paterson New Jersey, Michaels has explored many mediums, including self-publishing two books in the 1980s, with co-author Marsha Cudworth, on Cape May NJ. Victorian Holidays, a guide to B&B Inns and restaurants and self-guided architectural tours were fully illustrated by the authors and were innovative guides published at the height of Cape May’s renaissance as a popular vacation spot. Michaels’ interest in historical scenes from his home state led him to develop a collection of original vintage Jersey Shore photographs which he individually hand tinted, using photo oils. A full page featuring his skill and unique subject matter was selected and appeared in The Marshall’s Hand Coloring Guide and Gallery Book (Grace and George Schaub, 1995). From mixed media collage of 1960s iconic fashion models to his music legend and his admired portrait series (Urban Pop) using hand cut stencils, spray, and acrylic paint, Michaels has maintained a steady production of eclectic and creative works.
“For many years my artwork has focused on a series of painted portraits using the likenesses of classic music industry legends and courageous people I admire. I always strive to produce a piece of art that reflects the essential human quality of each individual I am working on. Although I don’t personally know my subjects, I trust my photographic eye to find a unique reference photograph to begin the process. My technique involves hand cutting stencils to later be spray painted as the basic highlight, middle tone, and shadow layers. The original paintings from my Urban Pop series started out simpler by using stencils only and a monochromatic palette. The process of adding additional colors and details, for a more realistic representation, started gradually and has continually evolved.”