Signature Member, NWS SCA NEWS IWS
Daniel Smith Brand Ambassador
Fabriano in Acquarello Canada Country Leader
Michael is often called a “sunny watercolorist” – his airy, transparent artworks look as though they emit 
the sunlight. His traditional academic art education, extensive experience as a head theater stage 
designer, and oil painter career now inform his priority as a watercolor artist – light. His main belief is 
that sometimes even a pile of rubbish with beautiful lighting can become an artwork. Michael is a 
watercolor artist of great renown, with exhibitions and workshops all over the world, from Bolivia to
France to Australia.
Michael sees his work as an artist as exploration and observation of the world and its presentation in 
such way the others can see the things he saw – one of the most interesting jobs in the world. His stage 
designer background as provided two main insights fundamental for his subsequent watercolor artist 
career – understanding that the light is paramount to the art and the love for collective co-creation.
Watercolor is the most interesting medium to Michael because it is the only material on the whole 
planet where he is not solely responsible for the creative process. Rather than working alone, he forms a 
partnership with the water. Watercolor flows, permeates the medium, it exists in time as an alive being. 
Michael works together with the watercolor in a fascinating process of co-creation which leads to 
interesting outcomes. Such partnership does not exist in all other branches of visual arts.
Michael considers adrenaline and experimentation the necessities of the creative process, always 
challenging himself with new techniques, ideas, stories, and materials. Willingness to experiment and 
create led Michael to design his own line of watercolor materials and release a series of watercolor video lesson.