The Drawing Board collection presents a compelling exploration of the interplay between subject, geometric form, & rhythm, using painting to challenge how disparate elements can converge into a unified narrative. It invites us to engage with the underlying structures of perception—how the connections between points, lines, & shapes create not only visual harmony but also resonate on emotional & intellectual levels. In this way, The Drawing Board becomes a metaphor for the creative process itself, where the act of painting, connecting, form, color, & rhythm—guides us to experience how order & chaos coexist, both in art & in the fabric of our lives. Each piece draws us into a dynamic interaction, encouraging a deeper understanding of how structure & spontaneity shape not only the artwork but the very contours of our world.
Knock, Knock, Knocking on Wood #3 ©2025
23 x 11 inches (58.42 x 27.94 cm)
Enamel Gold and Acrylic ©2025
Knock, Knock, Knocking Wood Panel # 3 carries an undeniable sense of harmony, where every stroke and layer feels intentional yet fluid, evoking a meditative rhythm. Completed in the winter of 2025 as part of an 10-panel collection, the piece blends the real and the imagined in a poetic dance of color and texture. The palette of deep greens, luminous yellows, and soft whites creates a glowing atmosphere, speaking to themes of growth, light, and transcendence.
The forms within the piece are suggestive, almost figurative, yet ethereal enough to invite personal interpretation. The layered textures, built through a meditative process of application and removal, create a sense of movement and vitality, as though the panel itself is alive. A clean white border frames the composition, grounding its energy and focusing the viewer’s gaze inward, where its depth and rhythm unfold. The interplay of bright yellows and soft whites against the green background suggests a quiet, celebratory energy that reflects optimism, transformation, and the joy of creation.
Rooted in the symbolic act of knocking on wood, the piece resonates with the energy of fortune and the artist’s intention to honor both the unknown and the creative journey. This panel serves as a poetic exploration of renewal, persistence, and the subtle celebrations that unfold in both life and art.
Behind the Mask No. VIII ©2020
17 x 16 inches (43.18 x 40.64 cm) (Stretched)
Enamel, acrylic and gold leaf
The collection "Behind the Mask" is a series of nine original paintings on canvas that began in the late spring of 2020 when most people were leaving the major cities to find peace and space: the artist remained in New York. Watching the people behind masks during the day while the night was still. Day after day, night after night so many different images and colors resonated and then transposed onto canvas. The collection takes you into the complexities of our mind, and the use of color that creates the metaphor, as each piece slowly unravels into form. The green tones depict new beginnings and growth. The gold tones represent the pavement of prosperity and achievement in harmony with the universe. The dance is a celebration of embracing you and the mantra “I am who I am and that is enough.”
Behind the Mask No. II ©2023
16.5 x 17 inches (41.91 x 43.18 cm) (Stretched)
Enamel, gold acrylic on canvas.
The collection "Behind the Mask" is a series of nine original paintings on canvas that began in the late spring of 2020 when most people were leaving the major cities to find peace and space: the artist remained in New York. Watching the people behind masks during the day while the night was still. Day after day, night after night so many different images and colors resonated and then transposed onto canvas. The collection takes you into the complexities of our mind, and the use of color that creates the metaphor, as each piece slowly unravels into form. The dance is a celebration of embracing you and the mantra “I am who I am and that is enough.” The orange and green tones depict prosperity, new beginnings and growth. The gold tones represent the pavement of prosperity and achievement in harmony with the universe.
Sunday Morning ©2023
60 x 36 inches (152.4 x 91.44 cm)
Enamel and Acrylic
Sunday Morning (Morning, Glory), inspired by Dylan's musical song "Tangled up I Blue"..."Early one morning, the sun was shining, I was laying in bed, wondering if she'd changed at all, If her hair was still red..." captures the soothing warmth of an early morning sun, seamlessly blending with the vibrant energy of the day ahead. A multidimensional wave, intricately textured, symbolizes life’s ebb and flow, while its melodic curves and vivid colors reflect the deep unity of natural and spiritual forces. This composition elegantly illustrates the profound connection between art and life, evoking a sense of calm, contemplation, and renewal. A masterful exploration of movement, transformation, and self-discovery. This bold contemporary abstraction features a commanding red core, surrounded by a radiant golden aura, symbolizing personal evolution and the unseen forces guiding us forward. A fluid, winding form cuts through the composition, representing the unpredictable yet purposeful nature of change. The contrast of structured and organic elements mirrors the tension between control and surrender—reminding us that the journey inward often reveals the most powerful path forward. With its energetic brushwork and dynamic layering, this piece is a striking meditation on resilience, momentum, and inner expansion.
Completed in March of 2023 at the artist’s studio in Soho, New York.
Open Road ©2025
25 x 25 inches (63.5 x 63.5 cm) (Stretched)
Enamel Paper Appliqué Gold Acrylic on Canvas
The Two Gentlemen of Verona ©2022
30.5 x 15.5 inches (77.47 x 39.37cm)
Enamel Gold Acrylic on wood panel.
This captivating piece, titled The Two Gentlemen of Verona, is a dynamic, textured exploration of connection, duality, and the balance between opposing forces. The composition radiates an intense energy, drawing the viewer into a layered and evocative visual narrative.
The panel is structured in horizontal bands of color that create a sense of both division and unity. At the top, a radiant green suggests the vitality of nature and renewal, while the central band, a richly textured expanse of earthy browns and fiery oranges, serves as the heart of the piece. Within this fiery middle layer, the golden forms of two figures seem to emerge, abstract yet undeniably present, engaging in a dynamic, almost theatrical interplay. Below, a tranquil turquoise band grounds the composition, offering a serene counterpoint to the energetic central section.
The use of contrasting colors—pinks and yellows against calming blues and greens—suggests the meeting of two distinct energies, reflecting themes of duality, partnership, and harmony. The textured surface enhances the narrative, creating depth and movement that evoke the richness of life and relationships.
The title “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” nods to Shakespeare’s work, infusing the piece with a sense of story and dialogue. The figures and forms seem to embody the interplay of personalities, emotions, and perspectives, inviting viewers to consider themes of friendship, loyalty, and transformation.
This panel, resonates an organic, poetic energy, blending the raw power of the natural world with the contemplative depth of human connection. It is a celebration of contrasts and a visual symphony of color, texture, and narrative.
No. 10 MM ©2024
7 x 6 inches (17.78 x 15.24 cm)
MM # 10 is part of the "MM" Collection. The series of smaller works are comprised of colorful geometric vignettes that fully capture the magic unleashed on the canvas. Michaels’ constant desire to form simplicity utilizing repetitive patterns, geometrical shapes, poetic lines and colorful rhythms for the viewer to ponder and explore the full range of the powerful pictorial piece. All the key elements symbolized the essential unity of natural and spiritual forces forming a direct link between art and life.
MM # 10 was completed in the fall of 2024 at the artist's Studio in New York. The mediums in the painting are enamel, gold leaf and acrylic on canvas.