I pursue each landscape and subject because it is there and needs to be recorded beyond my mind's eye.
Indiana University, Bachelor of Arts, 1965
Michael Purvis has been involved in the creation of visual imagery for 40 years, managing firms that have designed the identities of some of America's most famous brands. He began painting in earnest in the early 70's but stopped to pursue his marketing profession. After buying a Napa Valley vineyard in 1998, painting re-entered his life as a passion.
Living in both the Napa Valley and Solana Beach, with roots and ties in Marin and San Francisco, Michael has had access to some of America's most spectacular and paintable scenery -- an artist's dream in terms of day in and day out opportunities for expression on canvas.
Michael is currently concentrating on plein air oils after spending time last year in the desert painting with Ray Roberts. He tries to create quick color studies in the field that he can take to the studio and expand in size or interpret into what he calls “mind's eye” paintings.
A masterful depiction of natural light - whether filtering through a stately tree or falling across the vast expanse of a valley - characterizes the landscapes of Michael Purvis. Subtle yet evocative, this light emphasizes the stillness of the surrounding scenes, allowing the viewer to revel in the solitude and experience the ensuing peace.
