Behind the Paint: The First Chapter - France & Italy 2013

The sketchbook and travel journal of artist Michael Tieman on his trip to France and Italy in 2013. "The role of an artist from the dawn of time has been as a visual storyteller. The artist starts the story, writing the first chapter, and the viewer finishes it by adding to it their imagination, and life experiences." This is the first chapter of Nancy and my travels to Paris, the Provence area of France, Cinque Terre, Italy and the hills of Siena. Here are my sketches, stories and thoughts that I work with to create paintings for my "Visions of France & Italy" art exhibition in 2013.

"The role of an artist from the dawn of time has been as a visual storyteller. The stories my paintings and sculptures tell are ones of confidence, strength, passion, playful sophistication and the celebration of life." Tieman has sketched and painted since childhood and has spent almost four decades as a working artist, both as a graphic designer and a fine artist. Following the encouragement of a gallery owner, Michael recently expanded his talents into bronze sculpture. Tieman's sculptures are unique in that they are a combination of traditional figurative sculpture and his Impressionistic painting style. "I create my bronze sculpture as a three dimensional painting, texture is the Impressionistic impasto brushstroke, color is the play of light and shadows across the surfaces, and detail is the impression of movement."