A native of Southern California, Michael Obermeyer received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration at California State University, Long Beach. A twenty year career in illustration included works for Disney Studios, the Anaheim Angels, McDonnell Douglas, Coldwell Banker, and the United States Air Force. Because of his illustration background, he is equally comfortable with the landscape and the figure. Many of his paintings are in the U.S. Air Force Historical Art Collection in the Smithsonian Institute and the Pentagon.
Michael was presented with the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2015. He recently won the "Collector's Choice Award", “Artist Choice Award” and the “Fine Art Connoisseur Award” at the Laguna Beach Invitational Plein Air Competition as well as the "Best of Show" at the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art and the Kern County Plein Air Festival, and the Gold Medal at the Carmel Art Festival. Collectors include the Marriott Hotels and Resorts, The Irvine Company, Hoag Hospital, California State Parks and many corporate as well as private commissions.
Michael serves as the President of the prestigious California Art Club and is a Signature Member of both the California Art Club and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association.
Currently, his paintings are showing at galleries in Carmel, Pasadena, Balboa Island and in Laguna Beach, where he is a regular exhibitor at the Festival of Arts.
He maintains his studio in Laguna Beach, California.
ARTIST STATEMENT
“As an illustrator, I've always created art to fit others needs. Painting, however, offers me the opportunity to create for myself, to allow others to see how I perceive life around me, and to totally escape from the real world for awhile. I enjoy painting outdoors and working quickly. It keeps my paintings fresh and spontaneous. I especially like to paint as much of the open space that I can, as it seems to be rapidly disappearing.
When painting outdoors, en plein air, I must work quickly due to the changing light. Therefore I have a limited palette of four to seven colors. This orderly layout also enables me to mix clean, fresh color.
I try to find subject matter that fascinates me. Nature provides the perfect balance of shape, value and color - the three elements that I find most important in painting. It can be so satisfying and I feel blessed for that.”
Gregory Peck once said, 'I love my God, my wife, my family, and my job. I am the damn luckiest man on earth.' As someone who gets to paint for a living, that pretty much says it all for me.