Feb 17

Feb 17 3 questions to Michael Earney // Photorealism & Hyperrealism Painter

"Within our shared world view perceptions differ greatly from person to person. We can never really know what another sees, even when we agree about what we are seeing. Reality is no more than an interpretation. In many respects the images in my paintings are there to entice the viewer's attention until the perceptual biases loosen and a change occurs. The line between reality and non-reality is readily crossed, given the right stimulus. These paintings of the overlooked and unusual might present an opportunity for opening to the boundless mystery that surrounds us."

Q: Tell me about your work? What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?

A: I am currently working on A to Z of Wildflowers. This follows the A to Z of Weeds and Other Useful Plants, which follows the A to Z of Birds… obviously there is a pattern here, though. I have not done anything like it before. My Magic Faces, Caras Magicas is a collection of the series of Mexican masks I painted. I had no intention to do a book of them. Yet having written short pieces for each of the paintings (which were translated into Spanish) that were posted beside each painting when exhibited resulted in expanding the text and ultimately created the book. Having a didactic streak, all of my work has been a learning process which is then turned into a teaching object; or at least an attempt to pass on some of what I have learned. I have had the tendency to work in series, that is, once I become interested in a subject I explore it as far as I can. Working in clay and painting I had no thought of involving other media but making films involves many different media, writing, sound, editing, movement, music, etc. This is probably where I came to see that including different aspects of creativity affords more possibilities to express oneself. The latest manifestation of this are the books.

Q: How did you decide to become an artist? Why art?

A: Making art is the only thing I've been good at and enjoyed. I know it's common to hear, "I was born to be an artist”. I never felt this. I didn't make any particular choice. I never called myself an artist until required to put ‘’occupation'' on forms, but I've hardly ever done anything else.

Q: What art do you most identify with? Who are some of the artists you enjoy?

A: I don't spend much time looking at art. I admire the work of all the greats whose work has earned them the recognition they deserve.