Art
Michael: In an age where the
purpose of much art is to shock
and repulse, where our psychic
and esthetic sensibilities are under
assault, Romanticism, the art
of beauty, purpose and meaning,
is restorative and life affirming.
The beauty of beauty is that
it is an antidote to ugliness. Beauty
cleanses and inoculates against the
unpleasantness of the world.
Linda: In terms of style, you
consider yourself a Romantic
Realist?
Michael: Yes! For me, realism is
the most accessible kind of art,
especially when it portrays the
human form.
Linda: What is it about the
human form as a subject that
attracts you?
Forever
bronze, but some of your most
popular work has been in acrylic.
Why acrylic as a medium?
Michael: My acrylic sculptures are
a blend of figurative and abstract
forms, a fusion that I enjoy creating
and to which acrylic is beautifully
suited. Acrylic is a truly modern
material and working with it is like
working with no other medium.
I start out with clay, a lump of
earth, but end up having created
an ethereal world infused by light.
A wonderful aspect of acrylic
sculpture is that it is clear and has
an interior: a “fourth dimension”
that allows the viewer to look into
the artwork. This characteristic
offers the greatest challenge in
working with the material, because
the original sculpture model is
opaque clay or plaster. While
creating the model, I must envision
through the plaster what is going on
inside the work—the reflections and
refractions as they will appear in the
final clear artwork. This is the most
difficult aspect of my acrylic art, but
when I get it right it is the most
satisfying.
Michael: Most artists would agree
that the human form is the most
difficult to recreate. But, in my
experience, the realistic portrayal
of the human form is the most
deeply satisfying, for it is
unmatched in expression of
emotion and psychological insight.
Linda: You’ve created a body of
work renowned for its unique
beauty and universal appeal. How
do you choose your themes?
Michael: When working, I am always
mindful of this maxim: ‘The greater
a work of art, the more universal its
meaning.’ I strive to create imagery
based on broad themes that are
universally understood, yet may
inspire a deeply personal response
in each individual.
Linda: You work in traditional
New Dawn
I am an architect by training and I
have always been fascinated by the
surroundings people live in—their
worlds. The interior of an acrylic
is a light-filled world that makes
it possible for me to tell stories in
space and time, a world in which my
figures come alive. The men and
women I create are conscious in their
lives and have the power to make
their dreams a reality. I hope that
collectors see and appreciate this.
I believe art should uplift the human
spirit, show us what is possible. That
is why I seek the ideal in my art—the
ideal illuminates our potentialities
and acts as an affirmation of the
best within us.
Journey
Linda: Thanks for sharing your
world with us, Michael. We’re
honored to represent your work.
Michael: Thank you in turn. It’s
a great relationship.
Touchstone
Michael Wilkinson’s work is
represented in private and corporate
collections worldwide. With over
two decades of international shows
and numerous one-man gallery
exhibitions, the artist has become
one of the prominent sculptors of
our time, creating beautiful and
powerful works unique in the
history of art.
Wilkinson sculpts in clay and casts
much of his work in acrylic. The
chemical name of acrylic is Methyl
Methacrylate. In the 1870s,
researchers began development of
87
a man-made compound that could be
molded. The resin was developed by
scientists at Rohm & Haas through
the early part of the 20th century
and brought to the US market in the
1930s. One of its early applications
was for the bubble window on World
War II aircraft.
Acrylic offers a number of
outstanding characteristics,
including exceptional optical clarity,
transparency, optimum light
transmission, UV stability, strength
and durability. A transparency rate
of 93% makes acrylic the clearest
material known. Very thick glass
will have a green tint, while acrylic
remains clear. The acrylic used to
make Wilkinson sculptures does not
yellow, turn brittle or crack over
time. If properly cared for, acrylic
remains new looking regardless
of age or exposure to sun. Acrylic
is transparent, crystal clear and
extremely lightweight, but its real
beauty lies in its versatility as
a creative medium.
Michael Wilkinson’s study of optics
has made it possible for him to use
acrylic in ways that were unavailable
to artists before development of
the medium. His use of reflections,
refractions, negatives, and
embedments enables him to address
important themes and create
complex worlds and narratives in
a single sculpture. His work engages
the viewer with beautiful stories;
his sense of life, as it could be and
should be, comes through in each
piece, like a beautiful light that
warms the heart and calms the mind.
The artist’s collection of acrylic and
bronze castings can be enjoyed at
Quent Cordair Fine Art, where Quent
and Linda Cordair have provided the
finest Romantic Realist art to
collectors around the world since
1996. The physical gallery, fully
restored and reopened subsequent
to earthquake damage, is located in
Napa, California. For those unable to
visit Napa, the art may be enjoyed
via the gallery’s award-winning
website at www.cordair.com.
All images appearing in this article
are the property of Quent Cordair
Fine Art and the artists they
represent. The images are protected
by U.S. 6