Biography
Bringing the cold element of steel to life, Michael Perks is an Alberta artist that is turning heads. Starting with sheets of steel Michael cuts, layers, bends & welds metal to the verge of his imagination. He is a millwright by trade, a snowmaker by accident, & an artist by heart.
Michael is constantly sketching and doodling in his notebook; it goes with him everywhere! From these rough sketches he will cut pieces of steel that will form the layers of the art. On these layers he will do a chalk drawing of various shapes. Once perfected to his liking he will then cut the image by hand with an oxy-acetylene torch or hand-held plasma cutter. This allows him to work detail into the images without worrying about the metal heating up and warping. He then builds out his scenes with combinations of various metals including aluminum and copper, grinding techniques, painting, etching and tempering. The brilliant greens and blues etc are a self-taught technique that is akin to doing a watercolor painting in metal. That way the metal will still reflect light and show off the grinding marks, while also being captivating in colour.
Over the years Michael has collected numerous awards including The Calgary Stampede 'Best New Artist', 'Best In Show' and 'Best 3D Statue Artist'. Michael was recently selected to supply a large statue for the new BMO expansion; 'Hindsight' currently sits in front of the 'Brand Room'.
Artist Statement
It is my goal to bring you as the viewer to the "ahhhhh moment" that I get to see in nature. Through my work you quickly figure out that I love being in the mountains, around lakes, and at the ranch. Being able to work and play in one of the greatest settings imaginable inspires me to create art that conveys not only beauty but also the energy that goes with it. Metal is such a cool medium because it reflects light and has movement when you walk around it. Metal is also strong by nature which allows me to play with space and shadows that painted canvas or wood can not do.
As an artist, I also love to surprise the viewer with something they have never seen. This is a tough feat in today's environment. I like to challenge myself to create a centerpiece for my Stampede booth that draws people in and gets them talking. I always honour my classic styles with beautiful mountain images and wildlife but it is usually the center piece that ignites my creativity.