Collection: Michael Freeman

Michael is an international award winning pastel artist from New Zealand. He has had a fascination with realism since childhood and in his paintings he is always striving to create images that have greater depth and feeling than can be achieved with a photograph.
 
Michael is in an Eminent Pastelist of IAPS (IAPS-EP), is a Master Pastelist of the Pastel Artists of New Zealand (MPANZ), is a Master Pastelist of the Pastel Society of Australia (MPSA), a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA), and has a Master of Fine Arts degree (University of Illinois, USA)
 
Michael went to Elam School of Fine Arts (University of Auckland) to be a painter and left a product designer. However after a successful design career in 2010 he decided to return to his passion for painting. Starting initially with acrylics, before discovering the wonderful medium of pastel – which suits his hyperrealistic style and love of detail.

Michael’s subjects range from his current series of still life paintings featuring iconic New Zealand toys and objects, through - landscapes featuring  old weathered sheds, barns, railway carriages, windows and doors, old locks, and farm animals (mainly cows) – all inspired from photographic trips along New Zealand's roads.
 
Michael has won many awards internationally and in New Zealand, and has been exhibiting his work regularly since 2015.