Arizona-based artist Michael Carson is a fan favorite among readers, and his covers are not only exceptional paintings in their own right, but they also show his growth as an artist.
First appearing in February 2013 on Issue 88, Carson’s early figures, both male and female, display an emotional vulnerability and beauty. He paints loosely, and yet there is a lot of intuition in his brush that reveal qualities of the face and figure that make his paintings sing. Later works, including his January 2015 cover, show a deepened sophistication in mood, paint quality and even texture. All of his covers came from shows at his longtime gallery, Bonner David Galleries.
“My work is first and foremost figurative studies,” Carson writes. “It’s what I like to paint, my biggest challenge and my greatest payoff. My nondescript surroundings help me create a mood or a story that I am trying to relay through my painting. Inspiration comes from architectural interiors as well as fashion and my work allows me to explore and explain this side of myself. Seeing how the work evolves, the subtle and the drastic differences, and looking forward to the future is what keeps me painting. I view a painting as a success when I take from it something new that follows me into my next work. It’s just about learning to become a better painter.”
