40" x 76" x 5" Original Oil Painting & LED Neon Mixed Media. Dimmable Commercial Grade Transformer / All Electronics are UL Listed. Dressed in a rugged coat, neckerchief, gloves, and hat, this cowboy confidently prepares to let his lasso fly. Perhaps he’s been out searching for a lost calf or stray mares. However long he’s been gone, when his work is done, his loved ones know he’ll come home too. The concept for Michael Blessing’s “Neon West” series evolved from combining his love of the figure with the nostalgic pull of vintage neon signs. Initially drawn to figurative painting, in 2014 Michael began seeking out historical subject matter and vintage neon signs, especially those that were no longer in existence.While contemplating new subject matter one summer afternoon, he was struck with the idea to combine neon with his beloved figures. The end result is a series of larger than life historical characters rendered in a contemporary style. Michael is currently blazing new trails by melding the vibrant color and contrastive light of the newest LED neon technology with historic western characters and iconic western figures. 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. Artist Michael Blessing explains the workings and inspiration behind his Neon West mixed media pieces and his Neon Card Series oil paintings.
