Member Profile

Michael Herman

"Prairie Anchor," 11 x 15 x 8 inches, Lost Wax Casting, BullsEye Glass Billet

About Michael Herman

The Work

I began working in traditional leaded stained glass in the early 1990’s, evolving to warm glass in 2000. Thick glass presented me the greatest opportunity and challenges as a designer and illustrator.

Each new work begins with a concept, literal, abstract, both. Then the plan for success, research, drawings and studies.

As the firings progress, the original plan manifests a life of its own. A finished artwork is the result of my reactions to the physics, chemistry and the tolerance of this willful material. Each work I push the boundaries of its predecessor. Three dimensional elements (lost wax casting) are extending my search in time and spatial elements.

Nature is my guide. Like the travelling sun over the planet, the next art piece is another constantly changing definition of light.

Biography

I was conceived in Poland, orphaned, adopted, raised in Leaside, Toronto. I worked part-time pursuing an art education at Ontario College of Art in 1978.

Seeking a change, career opportunities took me to Calgary, Alberta in 1980. My art education continued at the Alberta College of Art.

While there, I was awarded the $24,000 Alberta Heritage Fund Scholarship and graduated from the Visual Communications program in 1988 with sub-majors in intaglio printmaking and jewelry. My education and work history has provided me with the ability to work in many diverse and creative fields, from the silkscreen sign shop, to the design, planning and fabrication team of The Calgary Science Centre.

I returned to Toronto in 1988, worked as the art director at IBM Canada in the Customer Service and Education Dept., next a graphic designer and illustrator for the National Film Board of Canada, next a freelance Illustrator for science, math and English High school text books for McGraw-Hill and Nelson Canada.

My graphic design and illustration business led to a full-time career doing editorial illustration and information graphics in the Toronto Star Newspaper newsroom from 2000 to 2010.

I moved to Roblin Lake, Prince Edward County, Ontario in 2013.