About Me

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I am an artist working in Water Color, Oils, Glass and wood in North Central Indiana. I enjoy Plein Aire work the most but often find myself in the studio during the winter when the weather is less than desirable for working on location. I have always been an artist, memories of drawing are some of my oldest. My early influence came from looking at old magazine covers done by Norman Rockwell. Later I discovered the photography of Edward Curtis as he had struggled to capture the American Indians of the Southwest before that culture completely disappeared. then I found Andrew Wyeth and knew what I wanted to paint. The Egg Tempera and Water Color Paintings of Andrew Wyeth were simply wonderful and I was forever committed to painting the rural landscape and those that live there. It was then I realized I would never again see the land as I had before I painted it. Soon after it was Winslow Homer and his Water Colors that kept feeding my interest in this medium and a traditional approach to my art. While I left the life as a professional artist for a time I find my return to it at this point in my life refreshing. Life is a journey and I am turning towards home. Mike Yazel

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Naked Chair

  Here is a new chair I am finishing up for an upcoming show. Since these chairs always end up painted I thought I would show one while it is still "naked". This is a new style of chair for me, it is a Massachusetts Comb Back with a sawn arm and Knuckle handholds. Chair will end up black over red milkpaint with danish oil over that. It is from the 1785-1800 time period. I will post another picture when the paint is on.


Thursday, August 5, 2010

Best of Show

  Here is a Water Color of a house on the west edge of Mentone I painted that won Best of Show at Amish Acres this week. It was a 1/2 sheet of Fabriano 300lb CP Paper, the award was a purchase awrd so the painting is not available. I will be at the show through Sunday