by Michael Whelan | Nov 24, 2021
Tis the season. Be careful out there! 
by Michael Whelan | Nov 24, 2021
Another case of looking at a random mark of paint and seeing something in its silhouette. In this case it was a vague animalistic head. When I began, I was thinking of the aliens in Michel Faber’s absorbing book Under the Skin. Ever since reading it, I’ve been... 
by Michael Whelan | Nov 17, 2021
When I looked at that scrap of random shapes, this is what I imagined. I felt all I had to do was “clarify” the shapes so that other people could see it too. I could come up with a story that would explain who the guy is riding the magical beasts, where he... 
by Michael Whelan | Nov 3, 2021
A simple sketch done with paint left on my brush. I recall just before starting thinking that too many faces I’d done in the last couple of years had been profiles, so I made sure to choose a different angle of view. 
by Michael Whelan | Oct 20, 2021
I store my acrylics in plastic food containers, which allows them to last a long time while I’m working. Eventually, though, the paints have to be disposed of to make room for something new and these become my leftovers. To use them up, I’ll paint something spur of... 
by Michael Whelan | Sep 15, 2021
Looking back at the photo of the scrap that became PREFLIGHT CHECKLIST, I wonder why I made the bird a vulture. What I see now is the glaring eye of a crow. I couldn’t resist riffing again on the random patterns preserved in that photo, so I went to work with paint... 
by Michael Whelan | Sep 1, 2021
It’s nearly 50 years since my frugal art school days but I still hate to waste paint, even small amounts. When I’m getting ready to clean out my container of palettes and mix new colors, I always smash the leftovers onto a paintable surface just to see what happens.... 
by Michael Whelan | Aug 18, 2021
The bonus image is a piece of the illustration board that I was using as a backsplash for a series of small monochrome works. One morning I came into the studio and in the random lines and shapes that marked the surface I glimpsed a finished space scene. 
by Michael Whelan | Aug 4, 2021
This summer we’ve been entertained by turkeys walking through our yard, which may explain why I have birds on my brain recently. They are fascinating to watch as they move like dinosaurs, gliding through the weeds and trees. Lately every glance at a random shape... 
by Michael Whelan | Jul 21, 2021
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” – Albert Einstein This portrait started on a scrap of canvas with paint marks that reminded me of Albert Einstein. My dad used to tell stories of when he was a student at... 