I have been an artist for over fifty years. I started in high school and found a quite place I wanted to be.. Found a mentor to teach me painting back in the seventies out in Toas, New Mexico. Went to different community colleges, collage and finally a M.F.A in studio Art from U.of.Md in 1991.
  Have taught in different community colleges, one colleges and 2 Universities in the U.S.A..
      Have shown and sold my art for over 40 years. I was also a plasterer in historical preservation for many years until the lime damaged my lungs.
    I primary form is painting in oils, encaustic , but also do, drawing, stone and wood carving, Mosaic in many forms of print making.

                                                                       Thank you, Michael Dean
                                                                       
      

That is a deep question so I will answer it the best way I can.. A desire hits me with an idea in painting ,sculpture , mural ,or what ever I have my mind on. the idea turns into a mission. I get my spark from the first mark. It can be plein Air, a model, work on stone or wood, a copper plate for a print.
       Sometimes it is representational, sometimes an images when I close my eyes and try to copy he images I see. I will start a big piece and build on it with the knowledge, from practicing ;the elements of design ,and the Principles of Design. .Something that becomes 2nd natural after making or carving, or printing a mark of image.for over 50  yesrs.
        So if I am doing a landscape, or a model ,I get the likeness as good as I see fit but I try to get the idea of the way I feel about the subject. And of course the energy of the subject.

                                                                      Thank you,Michael Dean