Micheal Zarowsky seems to have a line of vision that is
altogether novel and intriguing. He sees some fragment
of a far larger landscape and he takes this element,
turns it a little, plays with the colours, and creates a
painting that is a highly appealing blend of impressionism
and realism. Micheal has an uncanny ability to isolate the
essence of a landscape, and then illuminate the small
part of the whole, which becomes the very symbol of
that which it represents. That, of course, is what
abstraction is all about; but the genius of Micheal
Zarowsky is that he presents the effect of abstraction
while he is actually painting in a realistic way some
isolated element that signifies, with utmost economy,
the wider scene. Andrew Malcolm
Micheal Zarowsky (www.zarowsky.net)
Canadian painter, working in watercolour, acrylic and pastels.
Member CSPWC
Combined Hons.Degree in Philosophy and Psychology, York University, Toronto, 76
Fervent Adlibber.
In 1979 we began exploring watercolours on arches paper.
In 2006 we started painting watercolours directly on gessoed birch panels.
In 2009, Acrylics painted directly on gessoeod Norwegian birch panels.
In 2011, Watercolours and Acrylics on absorbent ground on gessoed birch panels
Never one to be contained by any medium, we have over the years made continuous leaps forward to take the watercolour medium in new directions opening new possibilities, and have once again done so here. I am now painting with watercolours directly on gessoed norwegian birch panels. Working on gessoed panels isn’t much fun, being akin to painting on kitchen counter top with every stroke beading up streaking, smearing, misbehaving like so much split coloured water, but I am dazzled by the new textures, the strength, immediacy and directness that results, (and my work on paper is strong).The paintings are finished by painting around the edges and as such can be hung without a frame or floated in a float frame. To secure the watercolour I lightly apply 2 coats of spray fixative, and once dry, lay on 2 coats of matt varnish, just as any oil or acrylic, to seal it permanently against the elements. Having scoured the internet for anyone else working in the same way, & unable to find a soul painting watercolours directly onto gessoed panels, I find myself, for a brief moment anyways, in a unique position creating something never been done before.
Following the natural evolution of thinking processes, as always for me it is normal that things should only become more complicated.
A discusssion I had with art restorer from the AGO, followed up with others with curators/gallery dealers, the consensus is that watercolours painted directly on gessoed birch panels, become, by virtue of needing to be made secure - the process of securing with a coat or 2 of acrylic varnish – become acrylic paintings. They are acrylic whether intended or not.
If as such, they are then deemed acrylics, simply because of varnishing at the end, this to me is a ‘backended’ process of arriving at acrylics. If the watercolours are going to be called acrylics simply because of that, then why not front-end load the process.
That is, work in acrylics from the getgo.
It occurs to me that, painting watercolours on gessoed panels, working from light to dark, working negatively as I do, as it involves building up layers upon layers on the gessoed panels with the watercolours, why not mix in acrylic gel with/to the watercolours as I go along, and so enter a new phase, wherein I now am painting with acrylics - acrylics that I make myself - on gessoed birch panels.
MICHEAL ZAROWSKY - Honours B.A. Philosophy, York University, Toronto, 1976
- C.S.P.W.C.
______________PRINCIPAL EXHIBITIONS________
2012
Feb 1 – 29 Leaside Branch, Toronto Public Library, 165 McRae Dr., Toronto
2011
April 15 – May 30 Spring Open Studio Exhibition & Sale, 11 Elm Ave.,
Toronto
2010
Nov 1 –Dec 30 Autumn Open Studio Exhibition & Sale, 11 Elm Ave., Toronto
April 1 – 30 Spring Open Studio Exhibition & Sale, 11 Elm Ave., Toronto
2009
Nov 1 – 30 Autumn Open Studio Exhibition & Sale, 11 Elm Ave., Toronto
April 1 – 30 Spring Open Studio Exhibition & Sale, 11 Elm Ave., Toronto
2008
Nov 20 -22 New Watercolours; Ontario North; fall & winter abstracted
landscapes; Leonardo Gallery, 133 Avenue Road, Toronto
Oct 2nd – Nov 1 Campbell House Museum / Gallery – 160 Queen St W. Toronto
April 17-19 Watercolours on Gessoed panels & on Arches paper – Ontario
Winter, Magnolias, Infinity Rings, Pines, & new work from Paris – Leonardo
Gallery, 133 Avenue Rd, Toronto
2007
Nov 15 – 17 Watercolours on gessoed panels & on Arches paper – Ontario
Landscapes & new work from Paris & Venice - Leonardo Gallery, 133 Ave.
Rd., Toronto
April 12 – 18 Watercolours on gessoed birch panels & on Arches paper -
Ontario Landscapes & Parisian Cityscapes - Leonardo Gallery – 133 Ave.
Rd., Toronto
2006
Nov 9th, CFI - Corpfinance International Ltd, 229 Niagara St., Toronto
Oct 17 – 28 Georgian Bay, the water, the pines, the rock, a unique & novel
interpretation; New paintings from Venice, Niagara St. Gallery, 254
Niagara St., Toronto
April 5 – 15 20 Views of Paris from a balcony series, Ontario Winter n
Georgian Bay, Parisian Interiors, Niagara Street Gallery, 254 Niagara St.
Toronto
2005
Nov 14 – 25 Ministry of the Attorney General, Crown Law Office – 720 Bay
St., Toronto
Nov 4 – 5 Fall/Winter Abstracted light of Ontario, Essential Venice, &
Funky Parisian Interiors, Gallery 401, Suite 240, 401 Richmond St. W.,
Toronto
April 15 – 16 Trellised gardens/canals Venice/Parisian interiors/Ontario
landscapes – Gallery 401, Ste 240 – 401 Richmond St. W. Toronto
2004
Nov 12- 13 Ontario water reflections, fall colours & winterlight; New
impressions of Venice/Paris - Gallery 401, Ste 240 - 401 Richmond St. W.
Toronto
April 16 – 17 Parisian interiors, Fall n Winter interiors; Aspects of
city life. Gallery 401, Ste 240 - 401 Richmond St. W. Toronto
2003
Nov 27 – Dec 5 Ministry of the Attorney General, Crown Law Office – 720
Bay St., Toronto
Nov 6 - 8 Reflections / Precambrian Rock from Georgian Bay, & Parisian
Interiors - Gallery 401, Ste 240, 401 Richmond St. W. Toronto
April 24 – 26 Paintings from Ontario/Venice & Paris, Gallery 401, Ste
240, 401 Richmond St. W. Toronto
2002
Nov 1 - 2 Paintings of Interiors/ Flowers from the garden & the wild;
pond reflections – Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Ste 202D - 255 Front
St. W. - Toronto
April 12 – 13 Paintings from Paris, Venice and Ontario - Metro Toronto
Convention Centre, Ste 202D - 255 Front St. W., Toronto
2001
Nov 9 – 10 Paintings from mid-coast Maine, Ontario & Still Life Studies,
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Ste 202D, 255 Front St. W., Toronto
May 11 – 12 Paintings from Paris, Ontario Winter & the Greek Islands.
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Ste 202 - 255 Front st.w. Toronto
the rest, from 2000 to 1979 available upon request
prev
