Featuring the works of Michael Meissner of Glendive, Montana.                      Michael was born abroad of American parents in the 1950s, the child of parents from Glendive, Montana. He was raised in Germany, later in the United States in Colorado and Montana. He attended school in Glendive and Missoula, and attended the University of Montana in the 1970s, majoring in Fine Art. He considers himself largely self-taught and has been an active artist since childhood.           Michael embarked on a military and aerospace engineering and management career in the desert southwest, and later completed his BS/MS degrees in Naturology, the study of Natural Health and Healing. He also achieved formal education and certification as a Master Herbalist and Naturopath. He later studied the Japanese healing art known as "Reiki" and today offers services providing Reiki treatments and training in various forms of meditation and relaxation. Visit the website "Reiki Montana" for more information.            As an artist he develops western, Native American, wildlife and surrealistic scenes and images in acrylic and oil on various surfaces, including canvas, canvas board, tanned animal hides, saw blades, old barn wood and even fiberglass models prepared for public display. His mediums have included pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, oil and acrylics on canvas and mixed media articles. His subjects have included western, wildlife and often surrealistic themes. In spite of varying styles and themes, he considers himself first and foremost a "Surrealist", painting creative and colorful paintings that convey thoughtprovoking images and scenes that one might encounter in a state of dreaming.            He has participated in several community art projects in the development of artistically embellished fiberglass models that have been placed on public display and auctioned to benefit community efforts. These have included the 2006 "Hooked on Paddlefish" project in Glendive, Montana, and the 2007 and 2008 "Buffalo Roam" art project in West Yellowstone, Montana. His buffalo paintings are now on display in West Yellowstone, Montana and at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park and will be auctioned in the fall of 2009.            Michael displays much of his work in galleries across Montana, including the Madison Crossing Gallery (West Yellowstone), Carbon County Arts Guild (Red Lodge), Whooping Crones Gallery (Missoula) and the Dacotah Territories Gallery located in Medora, North Dakota. Many of his works may be found in private collections across the United States, Germany, Norway, Japan, Greece, Greenland and even the islands of Fiji.

All images Copyright 2001-2007 "Country Rock" Handpainted acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20". No one ever seems to understand this one. It's not about the person, it's not about the clothes.... it's about the music. That's all. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image size with greater detail.

 

"Corporate Option" Handpainted acrylic on canvas. Bad things can happen when you let corporate executives play with your money. Witness Enron and the repeated upheaval of Wall Street and the resulting economic chaos. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image size with greater detail.

 

"Daughter of the Fields" Handpainted original acrylic painting on canvas, 36" x 36". In the Middle East the locals refer to the opium poppy as the "daughter of the fields", portrayed here in actual and human form. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image size with greater detail.

 

Running Bear Creative Artwork -- Featuring Online Galleries of Michael's work

"Forbidden Fruit" Handpainted original acrylic painting on canvas, 16" x 20". Anyone even remotely familiar with the Biblical tale of Genesis can figure this one out. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image size with greater detail.

 

"On The Town" Handpainted original acrylic painting on canvas, 16" x 20" (2007). Surrealistic theme that reflects the arrogance and the facade of ego in our society. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image size with greater detail.

"Tribute to Walter" Handpainted original acrylic painting on canvas, 16" x 20" (2007). Surrealistic theme that contains elements of the various works of Montana artist Walter Hook (1919-1989). Walter was an admired art professor at the University of Montana in Missoula and often painted wildlife and surrealistic paintings with elements reminiscient of Montana and his boyhood home of Bonner. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image size with greater detail.

"The Hunted" Handpainted original acrylic painting on canvas, 20" x 24" (2007). Surrealistic theme that invites the viewer to decide the roles of "hunter" and "prey". Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image size with greater detail.

"Epiphany" Handpainted original acrylic painting on canvas, 16" x 20" (2008). Surrealistic theme. An "epiphany" is a sudden burst of understanding, that instant in which some complex concept or problem becomes clear. In Japan this is referred to as a "satori". This instant in time is often thought of as the moment of death of the body, that split second in time and space where the universe is suddenly comprehensible. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image size with greater detail.

"Path of Knowledge" Handpainted original acrylic painting on canvas, 16" x 20" (2008). Surrealistic theme. The path to enlightenment requires knowledge and patience. The keys in this painting represent the pieces of knowledge and wisdom we acquire in life that enable us on the path. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image size with greater detail.

"Urban Shadows" Handpainted original acrylic painting on canvas, 16" x 20" (2008). Surrealistic theme. Illustrates the vague relationships of people living in congested urban settings. The impact of these lives is often no more than a shadow cast across your soul. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image size with greater detail.

"Strategy" Handpainted original acrylic painting on canvas, 16" x 20" (2008). Surrealistic theme. Even the best strategies of man are flawed. Man is imperfect, so therefore are his efforts. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image size with greater detail.