George J. Mihalcheon

Mihalcheon's art works span 44 years of a distinguished career as an Alberta graphic artist, painter and educator. Always elegant in concept and expression, Mihalcheon's current painting style has evolved from a progression of several distinct styles and conceptual modes: first, the action painter's preoccupation with the broad stroke, sensuous colour, and dynamic figure-ground relationship; then the geometric abstractionist's interest in hard edge, flat surface, simplified form and colour and perceptual ambiguity; and finally, in his current work, the post-painterly abstractionist's attraction for the vivid interpretation of the landscape. The reality of George's work in both figurative and non-figurative modes arises from the confrontation of his reference subject - nature and its phenomena - and the contemplation which sparks a perceptual experience fueled by love for bright synergistic colour, simplicity of form and design, the creation of dynamic figure-ground relationships and, quite often, the need to identify the subject through figuration yet at the same time to maintain its abstract characteristics. (Excerpt form an essay by Nicholas Roukes)

Field Series 14 - 2003
acrylic on canvas, 36 in x 48 in