Michael Kraniski

Interview with the artist Michael Kraniski —

1. Who are you and what do you do?
After graduating from the Cleveland Institute of Art, one the nation’s leading art and design institutes, I pursued a successful design career, winning numerous awards in both the U.S. and Europe.  Now I have returned to my original passion – the fine arts. My paintings are about the atmosphere, the light, the color of the sky, the movement of the clouds, and how they affect the landscape.

“The Storm”
48×36, oil on canvas

2. Why art?
Everyone is blessed with a gift from God. Such a gift might be a great mind, beauty, leadership abilities, or simply the ability to be a good listener. Then there are some of us that have been blessed to be artist.

3. What is your earliest memory of wanting to be an artist?
I took being an artist seriously when I received my first commission in my teens.

“Wheat Field”
16×20, oil on canvas

“Piccola Pittura 029”
6×6, oil in hardboard

4. What are your favorite subject(s) and media(s)?
I have become known for my “Skyscapes”. I feel that the most interesting element in a landscape painting is the sky. Landscapes are static, and of little interest until the sky acts upon them. The sky sets the mood.  It controls the color and light of the landscape, and provides a sense of movement to the painting.

“The Storm
48×36, oil on canvas

“Piccola Pittura 032”
6×6, oil in hardboard

5. How do you work and approach your subject?
My process for doing a painting is experimental. Without a preconceived notion of what the outcome will be. It is always a surprise to me. I attack the canvas with large brushes, and move quickly across the canvas to develop the sky before adding the landscape. As I critique my work, I try to take the role of the observer. Ensuring that the person viewing my work will experience the outcome in the same way I did during the creative process.

6. What are your favorite art work(s), artist(s)?
My favorite artist is John Singer Sargent; I love the fluid flow of his brush strokes.

“Tornado”
13×10, oil in hardboard

7. What are the best responses you have had to your work?
The best responses to my work that I have heard came from people as they passed my booth at art festivals. “WOW”

8. What do you like about your work?
What I like about my work is knowing that I am using the talent that God has blessed me with.

“Evening on a Bainbridge Farm”
20×16, oil on canvas

9. What advice would you give to other artists?
My advice for the artist starting out is: Buy large tubes of cheep oil paints so that  you do not feel inhibited or reluctant to attack the canvas. Use large brushes first before using the smaller brushes. Don’t be timid you can always start over. Remember most of all to enjoy painting.

“Summer Creek”
20×16, oil on canvas

10. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
Not a clue.

Michael Kraniski

LINKS –

Website: www.MichaelKraniski.com