MICHAEL SACRAMENTO

Urban Inspired

My collaged paintings are created with fragments of images, objects, textures and colors that are inspired by my day to day observations.  The process of collecting and finding inspiration from these visual cues, then using them to create a new visual experience, is my choice of intuitive self expression.

Most paintings begin on the computer, where I rummage through digital images that I have collected from my everyday life. My favorite images are of street corners, various surfaces (like concrete, wood and metal), street birds, butterflies, graffiti, and “poster” portraits. Sometimes I draw or paint the images myself.  When an image resonates with me, I place it in an inventory that I use for the actual painting.

The process of creating the physical painting begins with a surface that I prepare with a combination of metal, plywood, pumice gel, acrylic sheets and acrylic medium. This combination is inspired by the aesthetics of functional elements from city buildings and streets. Then, I paint them to further emphasize the formalistic qualities of the surface. Once the surface is prepared, I begin to apply my imagery through various techniques. Many times, I place focal images on acrylic sheets and lay them a few millimeters over the surface. Some images, such as the butterflies, literally look like they’re resting on the painting. 

These Urban Inspired paintings are a body of work where I incorporate various inspirations into one. This method of integrating seemingly independent images, materials and surfaces is my offering to the world. It is my fullest and most honest self expression.

Consequently this new body of work can be perceived as an analog to the human experience and how independent entities can be interdependent to create a higher, more textured and layered existence.