Mike McSorley
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At the age of 8, I was permitted to take some photos with an old camera.  My photos of bicycle wheels, sewage pumps and other inane objects vexed my parents (film & developing was expensive) but predicted some of the art I now produce. 
When bored in school, I filled the margins of my notebooks; turning circles into spheres, extruding words, creating 3 dimensional objects from any shape. 
My current works reflect that interest.  The original techniques of shading and extruding have been augmented with color theory, atmosphere, edge quality and experimentation.  First the image is drawn using graphite and brushed around with turpentine.  The background is blocked in, pulling the graphite into the paint and using it to darken and tone down the edges.  This layer is thin, and the ground of the board can reflect back.  This increases the intensity of the color and by brushing, scraping and rubbing; the color is augmented.  Sometimes the lines are still visible in the finished painting and at other times I redraw the edges with pencil to add strength.

As an art student, our painting class was taken outside and painted en plein air.  I realized that working directly from life is a great asset. Soon I was painting from life with all my painting scenarios.  Throughout my career I had a strong interest in how light accents the form, and a belief that form, color and atmosphere are best seen from actual observation. The effect of light and its reflection are a main interest of mine.

I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1979 with a degree in Fine Art and supplemented this education with classes and workshops from local and national artists.
 I continue to read and take classes as I constantly grow and expand my horizons.

I like to bring attention to the common objects around us.
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2017
2016
2015
2014
EDUCATION
Digging Pitt Gallery

Three Rivers Arts Festival

Pittsburgh Outdoor Painters at Shenley Park.  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 2, 2012
Phil Wilson Photo "Mike McSorley Painting at Bushy Run Battlefield" Tribune-Review. May 5, 2001. S-O Section, Page 5. Volume 113 No.91.

Donald Miller. "Midyear Delight" Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 1, 1994. Page 27.

"Good Morning Washington". Observer-Reporter. April 4, 1993.
Bob Drylie.  "Nuages: Art from Plain Air"  Pittsburgh City Paper.
March 25, 1992. Vol. 2, Issue 13.


Linda Antoniak.  "Road Sign Painter".  Standard Observer Newspaper.  April 6, 1992.  Vol. 8, Number 7