A Quiet, Humble Man: A Painter Who Walks Among Kings

By Charles Woollett

Like a moth to a flame, when it comes to true masters of their craft, particularly in a painter's world, I am held spellbound. Perhaps, it harkens back to my ancestral background and a great-great-grandfather being an engraver to King George III.

I sat down with one extraordinary, world-renowned realist painter, Michael French. It was in his studio in the lovely old Mirador hotel, owned by his friend Ivone and formerly by Cantiflas, the famous Mexican actor and comedian. Michael's coming to be in México has its origins steeped in love. Enter Erika Ramírez, his confidant, supporter, life partner, and mother of his two daughters, Sophia and Amelia. As with most of us who find ourselves in San Miguel, invited by a good friend, then lured because of her charm and seduced by her artistic character, it is an innate, inexplicable attraction that keeps us here. Another, best friend and Michael’s agent is, non-other than, Andre Van Hese, owner of the ‘Diplomat Treasures International Gallery’ an iconic art gallery in London. 

We see his latest work, "Honfleur Harbour, Apres-midi," being readied to be shipped for his newest exhibition at "The Gallery" in London this coming October. Michael’s work figures prominently in major public and private collections around the world, including those most notably by HRH King Charles, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, President George W. Bush, and President Felipe Calderón.

The full scope of 58-plus years of Michael’s painting and influences can’t begin to be explained in this article between all his 37 exhibitions from Forbes, Hammer, Kinsman Robinson and more. But here is a peek, when I had the privilege of seeing his work over coffee. His mediums are a mixture of oils and acrylics using an airbrush, paintbrush, and varnishes. He is drawn to landscapes, the sea, still life, and village scenes. His style, realism, surrealism, and hyperrealism. It’s a very complex process, extremely labor-intensive, and can take months to complete. Each painting is finally varnished with 8-12 layers.

Perhaps the biggest influences in Michael’s technique and extreme use of light were the two artists, René Magritte, the great surrealist, and Michelangelo, considered by some, the greatest master. Andrew Wyeth, the formidable American 'Magic Realist' painter, was also one of Michael’s earliest mentors, along with the marvelous Canadian Realist, Alex Colville. Michael, like British artist David Hockney, has long studied the Old Masters, like Vermeer, Hans Holbein, and Diego Velázquez.

To know the man is to also know his adventurous side. He homesteaded in the wilderness of  Newfoundland and Quebec. He owned and flew a Taylorcraft BC12d and Cessna 180, both of which were on floats to get him into the remote backwoods of Eastern Canada, a would-be Bush pilot with over 3,000 hours on his logbook. Oh, and lest we forget his fun times skimming the surfaces in a Bell-Jet Ranger Helicopter. His other love is sailing and not just puttering around, but doing trans Atlantic crossings in his 47’Jeanneau, where he and his father became best friends. This is a man made up of an unbound adventurous spirit, a unique perspective on life, and with his ultimate passion, painting.

It’s funny how the threads of our lives intertwine. Both this journalist and Michael were born in British Columbia, Canada. We were sent away to boarding school by our fathers (both ironically with ties to Canadian Aviation and Awards for their service), he to England and I to Australia, rather like Prince Charles’ experiences at Gordonston and brief stint at Timbertop. All this is to say, boys with highly polished shoes in school uniforms, playing rugby, taking some pretty hard knocks, with strict discipline, all character building, and yes, we made it through. Strangely enough, we all met in the past and are now here in the present. As Rudyard Kipling said, ‘Never the twains shall meet’. It’s curious how one’s paths cross in the serendipity of life’s artful occurrences, happily and beneficially. I have had many delights in my life, yes, meeting HRH Prince Charles was one, but this has been second to none, for I consider Michael French among the royalty of artists. May you be equally delighted by his artistic journey and inspired by his brilliance. To aptly quote Mark Twain, “You cannot depend on your eyes if your imagination is out of focus”. One gets the idea that Michael never stops imagining. Michael French, I put to you, dear reader, is never out of focus. 

If you can’t see his work in person, the internet shall have to suffice: michaelfrenchart.com