Oil Painting
Michael Black
Sydney-based artist Michael Black, known for his dynamic mixed-media murals, prints, and private commissions.
Artist Profile
Michael Black is a Sydney-based artist, who creates original art. His murals, prints, and private commissions allow him to capture moments in time through a variety of mixed media techniques. Michael is inspired by discovered landscapes, encountered people, and personal experiences responding to subjects in a dynamic and expressive manner. Michael explores human experiences and how classic story models symbolically parallel in our own life. Utilizing mixed media painting and drawing Michael provides us with a variety of Abstract landscape scenes that create a visual story to illustrate a variety of scenarios played out on the world’s stage.
Having completed a BA in Fine Arts (Design) at UNSW & Design in Sydney, Australia, Michael has been featured in both solo and group exhibitions. He is passionate about Public art and has done a number of large scale public works. Michael creates in collaboration with architects, interior designers, stylists, property developers, retailers, and galleries, bringing his work into a variety of spaces. He places a strong emphasis on the viewer and experiments with everyday objects, spaces, people, and places, often altering the meaning and aesthetics of these forms.
Artist Interview
What medium do you work with, and why have you chosen them?
I work with a mix of oil paint, acrylic, and oil sticks because each medium brings unique qualities that enhance my creative process. Oil paints offer rich, luminous color and the ability to build depth with their smooth, slow-drying texture, allowing for intricate blending and reworking. Acrylics, with their fast drying time, let me build layers quickly and experiment with bold color contrasts and textured effects. Oil sticks are my favorite tool, as they combine the vibrant color and quality of oil paint with the immediacy of drawing, allowing for expressive, tactile mark-making. Together, these mediums provide the perfect balance of control, texture, and expressive freedom in my work.
How does your artwork get from initial concept to exhibition stage?
My artwork begins with landscape sketching, where I capture the essence of a scene by observing light, color, and texture in real time. These sketches, along with photos and notes, provide the foundation for my compositions. In the studio, I translate these into larger works, starting with acrylics to build layers quickly, then using oils and oil sticks to add depth and texture. This process allows me to experiment with color and form, evolving the original sketch into a more refined, expressive piece. Once complete, the work is prepared for exhibition, ready to be shared.
Can you tell us a little more about your creative working environment/studio?
My studio is a space where I can fully immerse myself in experimentation and play, allowing new textures and ideas to emerge naturally. It's a creative sanctuary where I feel free to push boundaries and explore different techniques without limitation. The environment is filled with various materials—oil paints, acrylics, oil sticks, and a collection of brushes, knives, and tools—so I can easily switch between mediums as inspiration strikes. I love the freedom my studio offers, whether it's layering paint, trying out new color combinations, or working with unconventional textures. It’s a place where the initial spark of an idea can evolve into something unexpected, helping me refine and expand my artistic vision.
Career Highlights
- Commercial Clients included Tik tok, Woolworths, Adobe, Netflix
- Multiple Artwork featured in buying Beverly Hills, Netflix tv show
- Artwork collected by a variety of galleries and collections across the world
