Contemporary Interior Study Drawing

Biography: Michael Athanasius Hanna is a painter, draftsman, writer, digital photographer, digital and video artist originally from Jersey City, New Jersey who has been creating art since the age of eight. He has exhibited extensively in the northeastern United States and has been featured in large exhibition spaces such as the Victoria Gallery in Paterson, New Jersey and the Atrium Gallery in Morristown, New Jersey. Notable shows in New York City include a solo exhibit in Chelsea at the Wix Gallery and a one year exhibit at Hogarth Worldwide in midtown Manhattan. Michael has been published by Saatchi Art, the New York Times, Hartford Courant, Daily Record, Jersey Journal, Ypilson Art, and other publications. His work has been described by curators as a "reinstatement of painting as a force of action and reaction in contemporary society...a restorer, reawakening a painting as if it had long been in a state of slumber". The Daily Record made noted observations of Michael's art for which "these compositions bloom (or blast) out of his philosophical musings...on contemporary life". Michael works out of his art studio located in North Georgia and has been serving as the curator of Aedra Fine Arts, an art publisher and online gallery, since 2014.  Artist Statement: The art reflects an interpretation of structures broken down to forms of linearity and geometry. Through expressive brushwork, scratchy linework, bold colors, and dynamic shapes, the objective strives towards creation of perfected composition and design. Starting off with contemporary references I attempt to build upon the original concept in order to influence contemporary notions of design elements. My paintings start off with a drawing study of crayon on paper, infusing distortions, designed geometry, and fluid linearity. I apply the basic structure of the study to the canvas with an outline of magenta oil paint and then improvise with color, form, and various brushwork. As the painting develops, I experiment with imaginative colors and tones. The end goal pertains towards the creation of a personal standard for contemporary civilization which can be shared and explored to build upon current established trends, especially in image-making, design, and engineering. The paintings are centered on the aesthetics, design, and relationships we have with space.