Michael paints primarily outdoors in oil, pastel or gouache, choosing locations from the American Southwest, Downeast Maine and the Canadian Maritimes. He has been invited repeatedly to national plein air events and most recently was on the distinguished faculty of the annual Plein Air Convention & Expo in Denver, Colorado.

Michael was awarded Master Pastellist status by Pastel Artists Canada in 2008, and he is a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, the Pastel Society of America, and Plein Air Painters of New Mexico. His paintings have appeared in many magazines and are in both corporate and private collections. He was featured in The Artist’s Magazine in September 2013.

Michael is a nationally-known teacher, giving workshops across the U.S. A frequent writer for The Artist’s Magazine, Pastel Journal, Watercolor Artist and PleinAir Magazine, he is the author of several books, including Beautiful Landscape Painting Outdoors: Mastering Plein Air.