Hoffman, Michael

Biography

Michael Hoffman’s paintings are meditative studies done with rich colors and bold graphic compositions – he often incorporates circles, grids and stripes. The universality and appeal of this symbology pulls the viewer in and holds them there to explore the subtle details. He tries to create work that both captivates and calms. Michael works with abstractions because he wants to put forth something universal that can be open to interpretations that are unique to each individual and can continue to evolve over time. A common theme in his paintings are the relationship between rigid linear form and the organic flow of nature, order and disorder. He feels that this is reflective in many ways of our society and peoples’ longing for something more than the sterility of technology in our modern lives. Michael believe inclusion of these two elements creates a certain universal harmony in many of my paintings.

His pieces are also about the act of painting itself. He explores the physical nature of his materials and pushes to use unique and original methods of applying them. Many times there is strong evidence of his physical relationship to the canvas as he paints – using his body motion as a natural pendulum and the random arcs of his markings. Other works are done on wood panels that he coats with a plaster mixture and carve into before it sets. The geometrical markings bring to mind old nautical maps and celestial charts. He then applies multiple rounds of color washes (oil paints thinned with a with a clear oil based polyurethane medium) giving the work a richly colored almost glass-like surface. By virtue of the tactile painting surfaces and transparent and linear handling much of the process is revealed that can be traced chronologically. This leaves an intriguing surface treatment with a sense of history and ‘archaeology’.