Work samples

  • Canyon Redux Second Chance
    Canyon Redux Second Chance
    Canyon Redux, Acrylic on Panel, 60 x 48 inches, 2022
  • Quartersawn outside.jpg
    Quartersawn outside.jpg
    Quatersawn, Acrylic on Panel, 60 x 48 inches, 2022
  • Big Sur Out and Back
    Big Sur Out and Back
    Big Sur Out and Back, Acrylic on Panel, 48 x 36 inches, 2022
  • Cover
    Cover
    Cover, Acrylic on Panel, 60 x 48 inches, 2022

About Mike

Baltimore County
A 1975 graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art, Mike McConnell worked for more than 30 years as an illustrator before focusing on his fine art. He often turns to nature for inspiration for the vivid visual stories he tells. He uses paint in a collage-like way, cutting out shapes with vibrant colors on handmade wood panels, paper, and found material.

McConnell won the President’s Best of Show award for the 2016 Biennial Maryland Regional Juried Art Exhibition for his… more

Paintings 1

I doubt I'll ever like writing about my work. But I'll always talk about it. I made one minute videos to give you some insite on my process.
  • Capogrossi Lake
    Capogrossi Lake
    Acrylic on Panel, 48 x 48 inches, 2022
  • Capogrossi Lake
  • Big Sur Out and Back
    Big Sur Out and Back
    Acrylic on Panel, 48 x 36 inches, 2022
  • Big Sur Out and Back
  • Crèche
    Crèche
    Acrylic on Panel, 48 x 36 inches, 2022
  • Crèche
  • Garden Chair
    Garden Chair
    Acrylic on Panel, 18 x 24 inches, 2022
  • Garden Chair
  • Milton Avery Park
    Milton Avery Park
    Acrylic on Panel, 24 x 32 inches, 2022
  • Milton Avery Park

Paintings 2

  • Room 6
    Room 6
    Acrylic on Panel, 60 x 48 inches, 2022
  • Room 6
  • Canyon Redux
    Canyon Redux
    Acrylic on Panel, 60 x 48 inches, 2022
  • Canyon Redux
  • Mirage Massage
    Mirage Massage
    Acrylic on Panel, 24 x 32 inches, 2021
  • Mirage Massage reel
  • Cover
    Cover
    Acrylic on Panel, 60 x 48 inches, 2022
  • Paintings on Carriers
  • Drape
    Drape
    Acrylic on Panel, 60 x 48 inches, 2022
  • Quartersawn
    Quartersawn
    Acrylic on Panel, 60 x 48 inches, 2022

Paintings 3

  • Late Lunch
    Late Lunch
    Acrylic on Panel, 60 x 48 inches, 2021
  • Late Lunch reel
  • Living Room Makeover
    Living Room Makeover
    Acrylic on Panel, 18 x 24 inches, 2021
  • Living Room Makeover reel
  • Plant Based
    Plant Based
    Acrylic on Panel, 48 x 60 inches, 2021
  • Plant Based reel
  • The Water Ladder
    The Water Ladder
    Acrylic on Panel, 16 x 32 inches, 2021
  • The Water Ladder reel
  • Sustainable Desire
    Sustainable Desire
    Acrylic on Panel, 22 x 36 inches, 2021
  • Sustainable Desire reel

Paintings 4

  • Cheddar Ridge
    Cheddar Ridge
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Mountain Weave
    Mountain Weave
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Primary Table
    Primary Table
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • The Crossword Puzzle
    The Crossword Puzzle
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Detailing
    Detailing
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Star Canal
    Star Canal
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Genteel
    Genteel
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Garden Scarf
    Garden Scarf
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Cocktail Garden
    Cocktail Garden
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • The Unwrapping
    The Unwrapping
    Acrylic on Panel, 18 x 18 inches, 2022

Paintings 5

I’ve lived for 37 years in the same house on several wooded acres. The original house is a log cabin that was built in the mid 1700s. I restored the interior to expose the logs. The floors are wood. The ceilings are wood. I planted many trees when I first moved here. Many have matured and fallen over. I regularly cut and split wood on my property. It’s my primary source of heat. Not surprisingly, trees influence my art.

  • Butterwood
    Butterwood
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Tree Tale
    Tree Tale
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • My Prop Room
    My Prop Room
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Debarking
    Debarking
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Single Serving
    Single Serving
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Readin List for and Orange Tree
    Readin List for and Orange Tree
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Pupple Blaze
    Pupple Blaze
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Tree Stand
    Tree Stand
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Carroll Road
    Carroll Road
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Pasta Trail Fork
    Pasta Trail Fork
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022

Paintings 6

  • Cobalt Stem Vase
    Cobalt Stem Vase
    Acrylic on Panel, 24 x 18 inches, 2022
  • Pellucida
    Pellucida
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Archery
    Archery
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Frangipani
    Frangipani
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Mint Leaf Vase
    Mint Leaf Vase
    Acrylic on Panel, 26 x 20 inches, 2022
  • Red Wing Vase
    Red Wing Vase
    Acrylic on Panel, 30 x 24 inches, 2022
  • Curtain Gap
    Curtain Gap
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Chard
    Chard
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Window View
    Window View
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Bryce Canyon Parking Spot
    Bryce Canyon Parking Spot
    Acrylic on Panel, 10 x 10 inches, 2021

Paintings 7

  • East Wind
    East Wind
    Acrylic on Panel, 16 x 11 inches, 2022
  • Corn Candy
    Corn Candy
    Acrylic on Panel, 10 x 10 inches, 2022
  • Dials
    Dials
    Acrylic on Panel, 10 x 10 inches, 2022
  • Night Call
    Night Call
    Acrylic on Panel, 10 x 10 inches, 2022
  • Small Pond Notes
    Small Pond Notes
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Millstream
    Millstream
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Veil
    Veil
    Acrylic on Panel, 10 x 10 inches, 2022
  • Last Grass
    Last Grass
    Acrylic on Panel, 12 x 12 inches, 2022
  • Grace
    Grace
    Acrylic on Panel, 22 x 16 inches, 2022
  • Swamp Canyon Trail
    Swamp Canyon Trail
    Acrylic on Panel, 17 x 15 inches, 2022

Work on Paper

For no good reason I didn't make any work on paper for the past few years. I guess (hope) I was consumed with painting. I broke out the crayons a couple months ago. What tooke me so long? The fun is back.

I use a technic that combines wax oil crayons, oil pastels and sumi ink. I'm teaching some workshops. Check my links and sign up. Coloring fun.
  • Hon Bird
    Hon Bird
  • Veneer
    Veneer
    Acrylic, Oil Pastel and Ink on Paper, 30 x 40 inches, 2022
  • Slice
    Slice
    Acrylic, Oil Pastel and Ink on Paper, 30 x 40 inches, 2022
  • Logout
    Logout
    Acrylic, Oil Pastel and Ink on Paper, 30 x 40 inches, 2022
  • Moria Gate Arch (Triptych)
    Moria Gate Arch (Triptych)
    Wax Oil Crayon and Ink on Paper, 40 x 90 inches, 2017
  • Queen's Garden (Triptych)
    Queen's Garden (Triptych)
    Wax Oil Crayon and Ink on Paper, 40 x 90 inches, 2017
  • Cathedral Cove (Triptych)
    Cathedral Cove (Triptych)
    Wax Oil Crayon and Ink on Paper, 40 x 90 inches, 2016
  • Trout Fishing in America #1
    Trout Fishing in America #1
    Wax Oil Crayon and Ink on Paper, 30 x 40 inches, 2016
  • Clyde
    Clyde
    Wax Oil Crayon and Ink on Paper, 20 x 30 inches, 2016
  • Drunken Pilots
    Drunken Pilots
    Wax Oil Crayon and Ink on Paper, 20 x 28 inches, 2017

Persevering Today

I've been making art full time since I was an undergraduate at MICA. That's about 50 years now. I've supported myself this whole time making pictures. I've never had a job other than self-employed. I know I'm lucky.
  • Mirror Lake
    Mirror Lake
    Acrylic on Panel, 48 x 60 inches, 2023
  • Mirror Lake Reel