George Middleton

I grew up surrounded by nature, immersed and enthralled by the beauty of it all. My mother gave me her love of God and birds and watercolors. I began to paint as a celebration, to say thank you for this joy, this Heaven on earth.
Painting inspires and restores my spirit. I want to share this transformation- this renewed sense of connection. I aim to suggest both the reality and the hidden energy of things, to see nature in new ways, as if for the first time.

Mine was a family of nature loving artists, writers, and musicians. There was always sketching and photographing going on, and art books everywhere. My mother showed me the basics of watercolor during grade school. My high school art teacher was my first serious mentor. By graduation, as I developed my inspired visionary painting style in watercolor and gouache, I started working- first as a custom house paint mixer, and then as a commercial artist, painting signs and graphics. I decided to continue learning this way "on the job". I worked on projects as a designer, illustrator, and scenic artist for advertising, packaging, film, theater, and exhibits. I did backdrops for photography, and graphics and airbrushing on vehicles. Later, it was faux finishes and murals in houses, restaurants, and other public spaces. Eventually I started doing digital illustration for product packaging. Throughout, I continued my personal painting, studying constantly with art books, at museums and shows, and through inspiration from other artist friends, colleagues. and many other artists past and present.

I live and work in a vibrant art community of 300+ creatives. We host regular Open Studios exhibits for the public and art lovers each first Saturday of the month. My large painting studio is also set up as a gallery, with many works on display and for sale. I often work “live” during these events, and thrive on the stimulating and inspired exchanges with visitors, students, and other artists. I also give demonstrations to art groups and teach privately. My work is widely available on the internet, and I exhibit several times a year in gallery shows (see CV on my website for more info).