Paintings – Michael Kerske

Really Big Fish (100 x 200 cm) – With the „2 seasons“ in the part of Germany where I live, „warm rain“ and „cold rain“, along with travel restrictions and a gray streak, I was looking to make a large, colorful painting aka Really Big Fish.

Compassion „Sculpture“ Series (all 80 x 100 cm oil on canvas) – Original inspiration came from a trip to Vigeland Park in Oslo. Engagement (Top Left), Controversy (Bottom Left), Downfall (Bottom Right), Resolution (Top Right).

South Africa (80 x 100 cm) – while visiting Cape Town, had a few sculptures that caught my eye.

Landscape, Abstract & Plein Air Paintings

Palma (50 x 70 cm) – oil on canvas – seldom have I witnessed the streets of Palma so empty. Wanted to take an abstract approach using knives to recreate the scene.

Koh Phi Phi (50 x 70 cm) – acrylic on wood – inspiration for this painting came from a visit to Thailand. I was on an action packed cruise through the islands with snorkeling, cliff diving, a visit to Monkey Beach and Maya Bay. This painting was my perspective from the beach, where years earlier the movie „The Beach“ was filmed.

A View from Alhambra (50 x 70 cm) – oil on canvas – inspired by a trip to the south of Spain and a spectacular view from Alhambra.

Wine Country (50 x 70 cm) – oil on canvas – inspiration for this piece came from a road trip through the Champagne region of France.

Opas Garden (40 x 60 cm) – oil on canvas – a serene place to just chill and enjoy the view

Angry Girlfriend – The Meltdown (38 x 114 cm) – oil on canvas / yarn – This painting’s beginning started at a dinner party I threw where my girlfriend, another couple, and I added paint to the canvas throughout the evening. Although most of the work was done by my girlfriend and I, the painting really came to life later on. After an argument, she decided to take a knife and cut through the painting. Rather than let this gem go to waste, I stitched it back together, hung it up over my bed, posted it on the internet and called it Angry Girlfriend – The Meltdown. It suffered no further damage 😉

Schloß Berg (50 x 70 cm) – acrylic on canvas – most of us can relate to empty tables in Corona times. A tasting trip to the Mosel is a must. And most likely better without social distancing!

Meditation I & II (80 x 100 cm) – acrylic on canvas – This set was created for my wife in November 2020. Inspired by her dedication to Kundalini yoga, meditation and positive energy, these pieces with their warm colors are a nice addition to our collection.

All 48 x 62 cm oil on canvas

New Zealand Series (all 48 x 62 cm oil on canvas) – After a trip to New Zealand, I was amazed by the beauty and started painting in oil after my return Queenstown from Above (Left) – This particular view is an ascent in the gondola for my 2nd bungy of the day, The Ledge Jump. New Zealand Sunset (Middle) – This is the first oil painting I finished, and inspiration came from our arrival to New Zealand’s South Island on a drive into the mountains as the sun was setting. Milford Sound (Right) – An early, foggy morning as we rolled into Milford Sound. Although I love the view depicted in the painting, the dolphins speeding alongside the boat cruising the sound was probably the highlight.

Leftover One, Two (41 x 51 cm) – oil on canvas / pallet knife – I used to waste or throw away quite a bit of paint. A pallet knife and a blank canvas were perfect for different creations. Leftover One (left) is the first one in this ongoing series. After several years and coats of paint later, Leftover Two (right) was completed in the middle of painting Really Big Fish. Several more available.

Chalk Hill (60 x 80 cm) – oil on canvas – My first trip out to Napa & Sonoma . . . later proposed at the spot where the bench is under the tree. Chalk Hill is one of my favorite vineyards.

Birmingham (41 x 51 cm), Cemetery at Sundown (41 x 51 cm), and Cranbrook (30 x 30 cm) – Plein air offers a unique challenge with ever changing colors and light, especially in the evening. I painted these in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area in Michigan.