About the Artist
Michael Blessing spent his formative years in rural Montana, surrounded by the land, the people, and the experiences that small town America provided. Having discovered an inclination toward figurative painting, he favors a candid view of his modern subjects. As a kid growing up in mid last century America, brightly lit neon signs often captured Michael’s imagination and interest, prompting him to combine his love of painting the figure with his love of the nostalgic pull of neon in his ‘Neon West’ series. As a rule, Michael Blessing is drawn to strong compositions, vibrant color, and bold lines. His figurative work and paintings of vintage Western nostalgia are widely appealing, often reminiscent of classic Americana, and have an edgy quality that is both contemporary and timeless. Michael’s work has been featured in various publications, including Western Art & Architecture, Big Sky Journal, Montana Quarterly and Western Art Collector. His paintings have won Awards of Excellence from both Western Art Collector and Southwest Art Magazines, the FASO Boldbrush Award, and several International Gallery Awards.