Michael O'Toole
Michael O'Toole (1963-2018) was a renowned painter from British Columbia. He generally painted impressionist-style works, using acrylic, with the main subjects being landscapes of the West and the Pacific coasts. His works exude majestic atmospheres.
Michael O'Toole - That Special Moment in Time (1963-2018)
Michael O’Toole was born in Vancouver, British Colombia in 1963. At an early age, he showed a talent and love for drawing. When he was 14, encouraged by his family (his mother, Nancy O'Toole is already at the time a well known artist), Michael submitted a pastel portrait to the Federation of Canadian Artists and received high honours as the best portrait of the show.
After High School, Michael attended the British Columbia Institute of Technology where he studied architectural design. After moving to Toronto in 1985 to seek work in that field, Michael became aware that he could combine architecture with art by doing illustration work, also known as rendering. This specialty was great for learning about perspective and proportion. Michael's love for design led him to explore his creativity in a variety of media including watercolour, pen and ink, graphite, gouache and acrylic.
Michael worked for several architectural firms. But the more successful he became, the more frustrated he was with the “please everyone but yourself” aspect of his work.
Eventually Michael was drawn back to the beautiful West Coast where he resided; he returned to Vancouver in 1992 and became a full-time artist. It was a turning point in his life; one he never regrets. His work enjoyed immediate recognition; admirers are struck by the artist's sophisticated appreciation of light, texture and colour.
In 2001, Michael was elected to the status of Signature member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. The FCA was created by Lawren Harris, leader of the Group of Seven.
His work can be found in many private and corporate collections across North America, Europe and Asia.
His work and his art
As an artist Michael O'Toole paints mainly impressionistic acrylics with landscape, seascape and architecture as his chief subjects. He works in a strong, colourful style that brings vitality to his work.
The discipline of the architect is apparent in the way that he composes his work. He knows exactly what he wants before even putting the brush to canvas. His travels both locally and internationally have also been a tremendous source of inspiration.
For Michael, painting has become an “all consuming passion”. He believes that his paintings reflect a balance of emotion and technical skill.
In Québec, Michael O'Toole was represented by the Galerie d'art Au P'tit Bonheur from 2012 until his death in 2018.
