Mike Welton

Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Mike Welton began his art career in graphic design. In 1997 Mike decided to devote himself to his painting and he began traveling to different American cities. While on a trip to Pittsburgh, Welton discovered the charm and scenic views of the city's turn of the century architecture. The result was the birth of his "Urban Slice" series of urban architectural oil paintings. For the artist, the "Urban Slice" series has actually started to represent who Mike Welton is as a person as well as an artist:

"The diversity of the city buildings and surroundings satisfy my need for visual stimulation. I thrive off the energy of the density in urban space and I seek to record the changing times of city environment. My work is closely aligned with the pedestrian street level building design employed at the turn of the 20th century, back when buildings and signage were designed to be seen, not driven by at fifty miles an hour."

Despite his technical background, Welton prefers the simplicity and the "technology free" qualities of painting in oil. This medium allows him the time to concentrate on different aesthetic considerations. The depth of body and texture of oil color brings formations to life in a way "photography can never do." The dynamics of "Urban Slice" are manifest through the simple, yet deliberate expression of light, shape and color. Each "slice" strives to capture a building's historical and structural essence by using varied thickness of coats of oil and medium with the artist's personal adaptation of color. Because of Welton's design background, composition is also very important. These various elements, plus the architectural features and location he visits make each work uniquely frozen in time and space.

Mike Welton resides in the Twin Cities and has shown his work in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida.