Maquettes, take two

O/b. 5x7". © 2006.
I've been doing a small painting daily. It helps my eye and hand stay fresh & loose.
My larger canvases benefit from this too.

Rooftop

Rooftop, originally uploaded by msokolis.

O/c. 30x40".
© 2006

Black Gown

Black Gown, originally uploaded by msokolis.

O/c. 24x18".
© 2006

Maquettes

Maquettes are sketch renderings in paint.
The literal translation of this French word is "mock up".
In addition to larger works I've featured on this site, I paint small as well.
Creating art in a small format is an opportunity to work quick and fresh, with a direct
response to what's being painted.
Sometimes small paintings are studies. Sometimes they're stand-alone.
After finishing 15 planned, detailed canvases for my current one-man show, I'm painting some small works
on panel. Mixing it up keeps the process fresh.
More to come on this...

Sketch For Rooftop

Sketch For Rooftop copy, originally uploaded by msokolis.

Graphite On Paper
© 2006

The Bough & The Balancing Act

The Bough & The Balancing Act, originally uploaded by msokolis.

O/c. 20x16".
© 2006.

Statement For Balancing Act Exhibit

Here's the statement for the one-man-show which opens 11/4/06 at Sullivan Goss Gallery. Thanks Nancy.

Michael Sokolis “Balancing Act”

With an eye for elegant form and graceful line, Michael Sokolis creates dreamlike scenes of contemporary life far above the cityscape. The viewer shares the aerial perspective of characters in precarious circumstances. Echoing the dramatic flair of a film still, we glimpse the inner psychological terrain of these mysterious men and women. The realistically painted figures hold aloft briefcases, shoes, or perhaps a bottle of wine as they traverse a tightrope above the urban environment.

Like a high wire acrobatic act, an element of mystical performance suffuses these compositions. A master of the subtleties of glazing, this artist creates a sense of mystery in the shifting pastel colors of sunset and sunrise. Sokolis focuses on the ability of individuals to find the magical inner resources that enable them to cope with the challenges of achieving balance in the carnival of modern life.

Michael Sokolis studied art at California State College-Long Beach, and he lived in the South for many years before returning to the West Coast in 1998. His paintings are exhibited in Nashville and Atlanta as well as the Los Angeles area, and his work is represented in significant collections throughout the country. His “Balancing Act” series offers complex and beautiful paintings that reflect our collective psyche.

Nancy Clare Caponi, Director of Contemporary Art,
Sullivan Goss, An American Gallery

Neighborhood Sunset

Neighborhood Sunset, originally uploaded by msokolis.

O/c. 34x24".
© 2006