Michael J. Austin
London born artist Michael J. Austin (b. 1959) started his creative career as a comic book artist and illustrator for Marvel and 2000AD. His painterly style led to him leaving this genre and concentrating on fine art in 1996. Austin had his first solo art exhibition in 1997 at Jonathan Cooper Gallery, London who still represents him to this day. Known for his large scale equine heads and expressive portraits of bulls, nude figures and the occasional chicken.
“My technique is quite important to the painting. The brush strokes and the way I paint are part of the painting..it’s expressive”. — Michael J. Austin
Austin enjoyed no formal art education so is mainly self taught. His beautiful use of light and colour shows the horse in all its grace and elegance. The velvety texture of the coat and skin, the softness in the eyes, the muscle’s clearly visible and all correct makes for absolutely breathtaking art. This is an artist who truly understands the beauty of a horse.
You find more on Michael J. Austin’s art here and in this short film following him in his creative proces leading up to exhibition.