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A PORTRAIT OF MICHAEL DEAL

W hat makes a piece of art appealing?
Works of art are the most valued treasures of civilization. People will line up for hours to
see displays of work by well-known artists, and some pieces can attract so much attention
that museums must control the flow of people who want to see the work.

What makes a bit of paint on canvas about this artwork? Is it the subject, the If you plan to purchase artwork for
or a lump of clay formed into a shape so style, or the sense of abstraction or your home, look for a piece that makes
important to so many people? The reality that intrigues me? How do I feel you feel something – an art piece that
answer is simple. People find about the color, shapes, brushwork, you can connect with emotionally or
Winter Home Winter Hope The Bridge Winter Walk
inspiration in artwork. They love lighting, or other elements? Does the intellectually. Visualize it on your wall,
certain pieces because the work speaks framing or size of the painting add to with your own lighting instead of
to them by touching something in their my enjoyment? gallery lighting. Decide if you can
hearts or minds. It may remind them of
an event in their lives, something or
someone they love, or the colors and
Some artists believe that by gearing
their work to the broadest, lowest
common denominator viewer they will
spend years enjoying the color, subject,
and technique.
One thing you should NOT use as a
Tragedy to Triumph takes
shapes may evoke an emotion. The
exact reason one person falls in love
with a painting may be the same reason
please more people and ultimately sell
more work. But in the end, this
approach only frustrates the artist and
major basis for choosing artwork is
“because it matches your sofa.” That
judgment is for people who don’t really
Michael’s boat ashore
Michael Deal has led a very unusual life so far. A bumpy roller coaster of ups and downs, curving
that another individual hates it. makes their work boring to everyone. care about art. It’s all right to choose an
When a piece of art catches your eye, Artists trying to sell their work need to artwork that goes with your décor, but through unforeseen tragedies but ending up just where he was always intended to be. You see, Michael
try analyzing your feelings about it. remember that it only requires one you should have other reasons than was not supposed to be here, according to physicians. Born in 1956, when measles and mumps were just
Ask yourself: What do I like or dislike person to like it enough to buy it. that. becoming stabilized with the use of vaccines, the premature two month early baby, weighing a little over
As an example of what can happen if four pounds, stood little chance of survival. Respiratory problems threatened to take Michael more than
a painting is picked simply “because it
once but his parents knew that they had a real fighter.
matches the sofa,” artist Berni Wrightson
Paintings tells the story of one of his fantasy
< Continued from previous page
These small paintings were unusually fresh and colorful, and revealed the anatomy of
paintings. This work was delicately
painted in muted shades of brown and T herelocate
decision was made in 1964 to
the family from Indiana
good job at the North Florida
Reception Center and he was happy
techniques that he lacked in his
artistic ability. Wet on wet, oils, is
flowers in a way that had not been seen before. gold and at first glance appeared to be a to Florida in hopes of improving with his career choice. In the fall of Michael’s favorite medium and his
Two prominent artists thought his work was so fine that everyone should see it, so they pretty landscape. However, a closer Michael’s health and it worked! 1996, Mike was riding home from favorite canvas is the egg.
decided to help his career along. Van Spaedonck asked Redoute to paint pictures of 20 look revealed the subject was a huge Almost immediately, life seemed to work on his motorcycle when he Elongated in structure, miniature
rare plants each year to contribute to a collection of flower paintings that included works turtle in a swamp, attacking people in a take on a slower, more normal was struck and thrown from his bike in size, each portrait painted seems
by all the best artists who specialized in flowers. L’Heritier hired Redoute to do pictures rowboat. routine. by a speeding car. He was taken to to revolve in slow motion,
for another collection of which he was chief editor. This support and exposure paid off. A woman purchased the painting Time went on and Mike spent six the Jacksonville, Florida Trauma presenting a story with each new
Soon after the paintings began appearing in public, Queen Marie Antoinette appointed from an art exhibit. Wrightson was years in the Army then married in Center where his injuries were scene. Precise detail keeps one
Redoute to be her personal art teacher and a master draftsman to her court.
surprised, because the buyer didn’t 1979. The nightmares of a sickly mended. turning and turning, not wanting to
During the lessons he gave to the queen, Redoute arranged lovely flowers from the
greenhouses of Versailles in antique French or Japanese vases. Then in less than an hour
he would paint a magnificent watercolor of the flowers.
seem to be the type who would enjoy
such a piece. As it turned out, she
childhood now seemed nothing
more than a bad dream. There were U nfortunately, as the months
went on, Michael could tell that
miss any part of this spectacular
view. Landscapes and buildings,
Redoute was totally devoted to his art and stayed out of politics. This may be why the hadn’t really looked at the painting. still traces of memory too prevalent something was wrong with his every part of the sweet outdoors is
French Revolution didn’t slow his success as an artist and teacher. He became the teacher She had purchased it because the colors to ignore, such as Mike’s desire to body. After a series of tests, it was what seems to be most precious in
of Empress Josephine and then the Empress Marie-Louise, the two wives of Napoleon. matched her living room. During a draw instead of doing homework determined that a manifestation of a each painting.

M
Later he gave lessons to Queen Marie-Amelie and ladies of the court. In 1822, at the party one of her guests took a good look but that was even becoming a blur. rare incurable disease known as ichael Deal has been strong
express wish of Louis XVIII, he succeeded his old patron Van Spaedonck as the professor
at the painting and shrieked, “Oh, my For a brief period of time after Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy enough to conquer life at its
of plant iconography at the Royal Gardens.
***! It’s a giant turtle eating being honorably discharged from (RSD), sometimes caused by worst and will conquer oil painting
Redoute published numerous books on flowers, but the finest are two collections of
the service and before entering EMT accidents or trauma, had reared its at its best.
paintings of roses published from 1816 onwards. Each collection featured six gorgeous people!”
prints of roses accompanied by text written by a scientist named Delaunay. training, Mike worked at the Norton ugly head.
You may not have to deal with
Unfortunately, Redoute’s originals were destroyed in the fire which burned the Library of Art Gallery in West Palm Beach, Today, a motorized chair has
paintings of giant turtles, but almost all
the Louvre. Florida, never being able to replaced the hustle and bustle of
artwork deserves a good look from the
At age 73 he produced an immense and highly successful work on flowers and plants, completely shake his artistic ability. being an EMT and Mike’s condition
viewer – not just a quick glance. Every
followed by another on the flowers of “Europe and other parts of the world.” His last book He loved that job but as many on only allows him small amounts of
was another book of roses, dedicated to the family of the king of France, Louis-Philippe; serious artist is trying to make a
life’s trail, a good paying career had outside activity. His desire to paint
this book, which was not printed until after his death, was entitled “Bouquet Royal.” statement – to connect somehow with
to come first. has now taken center stage.
Pierre-Joseph Redoute was giving a class at the Jardin des Plantes (Garden of Plants) in the audience. It’s rewarding for the
His training as an Emergency Watching Bob Ross painting
Paris when he collapsed and died of a stroke at the age of 81. viewer to try to make the connection.
Artists who like to paint fast and in a big way, knife painting may be what they need.
Medical Technician landed him a classes on TV taught Mike the Bethel

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