Artist Statement

When I create a piece of art, I do not set out to produce a particular reaction in the viewer.  I create a vignette– a snapshot in time– and hope that it will serve as a prompt for the viewer to discover something beyond what is depicted in the piece.  I welcome this collaboration with the viewer– even though I don’t always get to hear about it–  because it allows my art to grow beyond what I originally created.
When I was a child, my mother believed that it was better to give me blank paper and crayons instead of coloring books; this gave me the opportunity to be creative instead of just following the “rules” of coloring within the lines.  That was a huge boon, as it forced me to rely on and develop my own imagination.  The significance of her choice to foster creativity in that way cannot be overstated.
Primarily self-taught, I work in various media including– but never limited to– pen and ink, watercolor, alcohol marker, and oil pastel.  My style ranges from serene watercolor landscapes all the way to bold cartoons rendered in pen and ink and colored with alcohol marker.  I see a piece first in my mind’s eye and then seek out the media that will best render that vision on paper.  Sometimes– especially with my intuitive pastel work– I let the moment take me, and the result is more spontaneous.  The colors and patterns are often representative of my emotions during the creation of the piece.

Biography:

An artist who grew up in central NH, Michael lives– and creates art– in a cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee with his wife and his cat.  After decades of creating art as a hobby while he held down “real jobs”, Michael finally made the decision in 2018 to follow his dream of becoming a full-time artist and making his living by making art.  
Even when he’s not in his studio, art is an integral part of Michael’s life.  He is known at several local eateries for his Sharpie sketches on napkins, created during meals out and often left for the servers or kitchen staff to enjoy.   As he puts it, “I have a flair for the pen, and I sometimes even draw with one.”
His art has been featured in local galleries, boutiques, and coffeehouses; he has designed beer can labels for a local brewery; and his isometric maps were included in a 5E / DCC RPG Boxed Set entitled Tournament of Pigs.  Original pieces, prints, cards, and other good stuff can be purchased directly from the artist or through his online shop at michaelseanpiper.com.