micmitblog

[micmitblog]

I've been working on this collage for the past month. Shortly after I finished "Social Distancing" I decided to make a whole series of collages about the Covid-19 lockdown. This is the largest collage I've ever made and certainly the most complicated composition. "The Essentials" shows a scene from the local grocery store around May of this year. There still plenty of food, but there were odd shortages. The store had put a limit on the amount of canned beans you could buy, and the shelves for toilet paper and cleaners were completely empty. Trips to the store were sometimes nerve-wracking. I didn't know how crowded the place would be or who would be wearing masks (and if they'd be wearing masks properly). I am grateful, as well as concerned for the grocery store employees who are working through this pandemic. I've seen some perfectly understandable tension between the cashiers and their managers. I believe these workers are underpaid in normal conditions. Now, especially that they've been dropping the "hero" pay, its abysmal. The title "The Essentials" plays on the idea of the material needs and the people who make sure they are available. www.micmitblog.tumblr.com

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Sketchbook: double selfportrait

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Sketchbook exercise

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[micmitblog]

Sketchbook exercise

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[micmitblog]

Sketchbook exercise

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[micmitblog]

Sketchbook exercise

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[micmitblog]

Sketchbook exercise

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Sketchbook exercise

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Study based on Romare Beardens "watching the trains go by"

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Sketchbook exercise 6/20/20

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Michael Mitchell  Hwy 151 (2020) Collage on Paper 10.5″ x 12″ micmitblog.tumblr.com

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(2020)

The school year has ended so I finally had some time to create some of my own personal work.

My wife and I have been keeping to our home for the past few months. It's dull but we are keeping busy. She's picked up knitting and I've been catching up on some video games. We both would like to get out but, it doesn't seem like things are getting better any time soon.

For this piece, I'm pushing my composition techniques. Most of my compositions before have been relatively flat and simple. When creating "Social Distancing" I thought about the paintings of Degas and Cassatt. I used overlapping and converging lines to create depth. Im carefully choosing my colors to subtely suggest light. Finally there's the point of view of looking through the window, my wife looking back at you, to make a spontaneous and intimate moment.

On top of these classic techniques, I brought my skills in collage: disjointed perspective, expressionistic figures, and a bold color palette.

[micmitblog]

Got a new collage in the works. I'll be posting the finished piece in the next few days.

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The Violinist (2011)

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The Guitar Player (2012)

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Drummer (2011)

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Jersey Devil (2016)