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Michael Carson Portrait Paintings

American, b. 1972

American painter Michael Carson studied design at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design before becoming a fine artist. He didn’t start painting until several years after graduating in 1996, now creating paintings with an atmospheric realism inspired by Norman Rockwell, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and John Singer Sargent.

For Carson, who was born and raised in Minneapolis and is now based in Arizona, every work is a chance to explore the interplay of color and light. Carson is also fascinated by texture, with how the movement of the brush guides the eye and can drastically alter the mood of a painting. “I like the fact that the face can be such a subtle subject, and one brushstroke can be the difference in the feel of the entire piece,” he has stated.

As a figurative painter and visual storyteller in the mold of Joseph Lorusso, Carson often focuses on solitary women, particularly concentrating on fashion and settings like nightclubs and cafés, embodying the mood of a moment. Never objectified, his subjects and especially the depth of their facial expressions reflect Carson’s desire to follow in French painter Toulouse-Lautrec’s footsteps and “just exist and observe and create,” as he told Resident magazine. Music is a major influence, with Carson borrowing song lyrics for titles and painting the cover of American singer-songwriter Matt Berninger’s 2020 album Serpentine Prison.

Allowing globs of paint to trail down the canvas, Carson wipes away colors to create a translucent glaze, layering patterns and figures to ghostly effect. These techniques are aimed at shifting viewer perspective and encouraging a closer look at the detailed brushwork and what’s happening just under the surface of his muted palettes.

Find Michael Carson’s art on 1stDibs.

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Artist: Michael Carson
"Just Think of It"
By Michael Carson
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
"Just Think of It" is a moody, figurative oil painting that layers soft pale blues against deep grays and black, creating a quiet tension. A stylish man sits at the edge of a couch, ...
Category

2010s Contemporary Michael Carson Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Italian Chair" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Italian Chair" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting and is framed in a black float frame. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painte...
Category

2010s Impressionist Michael Carson Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Land" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Land" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis College of A...
Category

2010s Impressionist Michael Carson Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Portrait of Britt Daniel, " Original Oil Painting with Resin by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Portrait of Britt Daniel" is an original, handmade oil painting. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis...
Category

2010s Impressionist Michael Carson Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Red Tights" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Red Tights" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting and is framed in a black float frame and is ready to hang. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a M...
Category

2010s Impressionist Michael Carson Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"All Roads Lead Home" Original Oil Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "All Roads Lead Home" is an original, handmade oil painting that is framed in a black float frame. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painte...
Category

2010s Impressionist Michael Carson Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Watcher" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Watcher" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting. This beautiful, handcrafted oil painting rests at 30 x 22", a...
Category

2010s Impressionist Michael Carson Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Stolen" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Stolen" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, and graduate of the Minneapolis College of...
Category

2010s Impressionist Michael Carson Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

"Resigned" (2024) Original Oil Portrait Painting by Michael Carson
By Michael Carson
Located in Denver, CO
Michael Carson's (US based) "Resigned" (2024) is an original, handmade oil painting that is framed in a black float frame. About the Artist: Mike Carson is a Minneapolis painter, a...
Category

2010s Impressionist Michael Carson Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

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Michael Carson portrait paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Michael Carson portrait paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Michael Carson in oil paint, paint, panel and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Michael Carson portrait paintings, so small editions measuring 36 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of John Goodman, Hunt Slonem, and Victor Wang. Michael Carson portrait paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $20,000 and tops out at $20,000, while the average work can sell for $20,000.

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