About the Artist
Michael Clements
Michael Clements www.michaeleclements.com
Born - Decatur, Illinois 1950
Maui resident since Jan. 1987
Artist Background:
When I was old enough to hold a crayon I began my journey as an artist with a bold orange line wrapping around each wall of our house. I didn't get any rave reviews! I can still recall the joy in making that line follow me all around the house. I kept drawing, (on paper of course), and when I turned 12 my Great Grandmother Alice Colerick taught me how to use oil paint. Grandma Alice was nearly 80 then and a daily painter who had returned to her passion in her later years. I started my lessons by painting scenes from Arizona Highways magazine. They were exotic landscapes compared to the farmland of the Midwest. I continued to paint through High School and then my life's course led me away from art. I worked many jobs, kept moving west and became a proto type machinist, a horticulturist, Landscape contractor, nurseryman, business owner and finally found my way back to the joy of drawing and painting. Today, I paint every day. You can find me painting around Maui and everywhere I travel.
My work has been influenced by the first plein air painters of late 19th century Italy known as " I Macchiaioli " primarily Vicenzo Cabianca, Giovanni Fatori, Telemaco Signorgni, and Giovanni Boldini. I have studied with many contemporary artists who have helped me to grow as an artist and person. I am grateful to them all and hope to pass along the knowledge they have bestowed upon me.
"Being an artist to me means learning how to see light and color in its constantly changing states. It is high drama that gets my heart pounding from the thought that I just might be able to "catch" it.
Artist Work Shops Exhibits
2002 Anthony Ryder 2006 Pastel Artists of Hawaii Show- 3rd Place
2004 Anthony Ryder- Santa Fe NM 2006 Great Makawao Paintout- Margaret Bedell Award
2006 Randall Sexton 2006 Plein Air Painters of Hawaii annual show
2008 Randall Sexton 2006 U.S. Plein Air Open, Coupeville WA.- Lasker award
2005 Painting in Umbria Italy 2006 U.S. Plein Air Open, Coupeville WA.- Lasker award
2008 Painting in Tuscany Italy 2006 U.S. Plein Air Open, Coupeville WA.- Lasker award
2009 Terry Ludwig 2007 Great Makawao Paintout
2011 Kim Lourdier 2007 U.S. Plein Air Open, Coupeville WA
2012 Jennifer McChristian 2007 Plein Air Painters of Hawaii annual show
2013 Colley Whisson 2008 Makawao Paintout- Margaret Bedell award
2015 Scott Christenson 2009 Maui Plein Air Invitational-Hawaii Tourism Award
2018 Daniel Gerhartz 2010 Sonoma Plein Air Event - Sonoma CA
2010 Makawao Paintout- Best in Show
2011Maui Invitational-Kaanapali LandCo. Award
2011 Makawao Paintout- 4 awards
2012 Maui Plein Air Invitational
2013 Kerrville Texas Plein Air Event- 2nd place award
2013 Maui Plein Air painters Invitational -Jurors honorable mention
& Maui No Ka Oi award
2013 American Impressionist Society juried show, Indianapolis
2014 Maui Plein Air Painters Invitational
2014 Just Plein Fun -Balboa Island CA- 2nd place
2015 Maui Plein Air Invitational– Irvine Museum Award
2015 Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational
Exhibits (continued)
2016 Hawaii National Parks Centennial Show
2016 National Parks Show- Phipps Center for the Arts, Wisconsin
2016 Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational – Honorable Mention, Maui No Ka Oi Award
2017 Maui Plein Air Painters Invitational – Irvine Museum Award
2018 Maui Plein Air Painters Invitational- Honorable Mention
2019 Maui Plein Air Painters Invitational – Honor Maui Award, Makana Foundation Award
Maui No Ka Oi Award
2020 Maui Plein Air Painters Invitational- Painting selected for addition to the State of Hawaii
Michael Clements
Michael Clements was born in 1950 in Decatur, Illinois, and made a significant move to Maui in January 1987, a relocation that deeply influenced his artistic vision and subject matter. He is renowned for his contemporary fine art, particularly his award-winning depictions of Maui's landscapes, employing techniques in pastel and oil as seen in notable works such as "Lahaina Harbor" (2023) and "Launipoko Beach Park" (2019). His artistic practice is deeply influenced by the vibrant colors and dynamic forms of the Hawaiian landscape, with his philosophy centering around the celebration of his surroundings and conveying the spirit and tranquility of Maui through his art. His work has been recognized within the art community, with exhibitions at the Photographic Center Northwest showcasing his unique perspective on Maui's landscapes.