MICHAEL BEDOIAN

My name is Michael Bedoian. I am forty-six years old and have been an artist all my life. Though I possessed the ability to draw, paint, and sculpt, I never really knew how to channel these energies to earn a living in a joyful way and provide for my family up until about six years ago. What follows is my story.

As a small boy I was inspired by an incredibly creative mother who lived a humble life as a homemaker. She knitted, sewed, reupholstered our furniture, created her own drapery treatments, sculpted birthday cakes, cooked incredible meals, and would draw and paint beautiful pictures. The thing that intrigued me the most though was watching my mom along with my grandma and aunt all creating paintings in oils on canvas.

In grade school through high school, art always came naturally and easily to me. When I entered college I selected art as my major but was frustrated because the instructors impressed upon us abstraction, and we received low marks if our work contained realism.

I switched universities and majors to interior design because we were allowed to draw interior perspectives. I excelled in these classes but had no desire to be an interior designer.

When my Grandma died she left me one of her paintings. Her work hangs in my house and inspires me every time I look at it. When she was alive I recall a moment when she requested that I sit down and paint with her. I nonchalantly painted an apple. It was no big deal but to Grandma it was. She told me that it would take years of study by most to paint that well and that I had a gift.

In my attempt to understand the watercolor medium, I studied many books and spent countless hours of trial and error experimentation on paintings before I decided to take a lesson from Judy Crane, a well-known watercolorist in Raleigh. She paid me the highest compliment by buying my value study and offering to buy my original. She then told the class to request the main office that I teach a class, and if I did teach she was going to be the first person to sign up to take the course.

My aunt died unexpectedly of cancer. She was an incredibly talented artist and her work inspired me. She acquired all my grandmothers’ paints and brushes and had used them on her paintings when she was alive. My aunt left me all of their collective art supplies including the McCoy vase, which holds their brushes that I use today.

I worked at Umbro Soccer apparel as a graphic artist. We created graphics for apparel, pattern repeats, ball design and shoe designs. Our work went out all over the world and generated sales in the millions. Many of the designs I created were the top sellers, which earned me the title of senior graphic artist. This experience also taught me how to use the computer in the art world. I am proficient in Photoshop, Freehand, Quark and Illustrator. Umbro unexpectedly closed, and I found myself unemployed.

After September 11th I decided simply to paint houses. This progressed and grew into my current business - MasterWorks. I specialize in high-end decorative finishes, which include Faux, Italian Plasters, Trompe l’oeil, and custom sculpted moldings and trim. I can paint and sculpt most anything. I have no business cards and all my work is generated through word of mouth.

These current paintings that I am about to introduce to you have come about in a spiritual way. A designer requested a concept for a Tromp l’oeil painting for a little boy’s room, which overlooked a panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I came up with a composition that would make it appear that the walls did not exist and in their place contained a view of the surrounding mountains with young animals playing in the foreground of the composition. I did a 24” x 36” sample painting of two bear cubs playing in a tree. The owner loved it and bought the painting. The designer requested I do more paintings of bears.

Bears began coming up to our house quite regularly. On one occasion, I quietly sat and observed a bear eating a left out bag of sunflower seeds from my second story deck. On still another a bear came up onto our porch while I was laying in a bed that was up against a sliding glass door where the thickness of the glass was the only barrier that separated us. On another day I watched as my dog ran after two baby cubs and several days later watched the Mama bear chase that same dog, complete with tail tucked between her legs, away from her two baby cubs. In these experiences I became aware of my own emotions and feelings for an animal that up until this time I only encountered in a contained pen, on television, or written about in books. In the stillness of my being I became aware of my fears but on a deeper level I became aware of the spiritual essence of our four- legged brother the bear. It slowly occurred to me that I was being divinely inspired to paint bears - all the experiences that happened in the past was preparing me for this moment. As I set out on this path I realized I would need a source for reference photos and also to consult with an expert in bears and their behaviors. I wanted to create paintings of these beautiful beings that expressed their spiritual side as well as raise our awareness to the delicate beauty these beings bring to our earth. From the thousands of photographers across the country, one was guided to me. He was not only a wildlife photographer but also an author that specialized in bears. He is considered to be an expert in his field and gives talks in the surrounding communities about bears and their behaviors. He has already helped me in removing the layers of ignorance I believed about bears and inspires me with his knowledge and his photography of these incredible beings. Bill and his wife Klari also run a wildlife sanctuary for black bears in Minnesota during the summer months.

The next piece of the puzzle was to find a respected source that could reproduce my work accurately. She too was guided to me. Michelle Miller is the owner of Double Exposure. Ms Miller’s knowledge in her field of work is second to none. Her eye for detail and color is impeccable. She inspires me and has taught me invaluable information about ethical pricing and business practices when it comes to selling and marketing my work.



“Inner Child” 24”x36” ( original done in oil on panel)

150 Limited edition signed and numbered prints on canvas. 15 Artist Proofs on Canvas

150 Limited edition signed and numbered prints on paper. 15 Artist Proofs on Paper -

150 8.75” x 12” Limited edition signed and numbered prints on paper. 15 Artist Proofs on Paper

Although I have done a handful of paintings in the past I would consider Inner Child as my first painting as a fine artist. Before the panel is prepared, the creative process for each painting begins with the elements of design, loose sketches, value studies and image research. When these parts are completed the panel is made and painting is begun. In this work, I simplified the background into abstract shapes that resemble trees in a morning mountain fog. The greatest attention to detail was placed onto the rock and cub. Through the use of brushwork and subtle differences in color and tone, I direct the viewers to the face. There are elements of push and pull with glazes that give the illusion of three dimensionality on a two dimensional plane. The titles for my paintings come to me as they begin to emerge. Inner Child is a reflection of the unseen divine essence that is within each of us. All infants remind us of this truth. Including animal babies.



“Divine Solitude” 24” x 36” (original done in oil on panel) 150 Limited edition signed and numbered prints on canvas. 15 Artist Proofs on Canvas

I wanted to take this image and portray the bear as holy. I had old Christian paintings in mind where the artist would illuminate holy human images with a glowing aura of light. This painting is an attempt to expand human awareness to include the animal kingdom into this realm of holiness. It was also a time in my life when I was searching both spiritually and artistically. During the course of this painting, a friend of mine died tragically. While he was alive, his young daughter who is an artist viewed this painting as it was being developed. This bear with his stare into the unknown illuminated by a divine light from above reminds me of my friend. It is funny how this painting sort of finished itself after he died. I thought I was going to help him with some issues going on in his life. Little did I know he ended up helping me even in his death. I placed his first initial in the bottom left hand corner of the tree in his honor.

This is a piece I am currently working on. I have entitled it “Delicate Balance”. It is two thirds complete. Adjustments to values and details will make this painting come to life. I had my seven-year-old daughter stand next to it for scale purposes.



Each Giclee print will be signed and numbered by myself and contain a Certificate of Authenticity.

The originals are for sale and I will consider all serious offers.

I live in Saluda North Carolina with my incredible wife of 21 years and two daughters who are 9 and 7 years old. We designed and built our own home and live on 6.98 acres of land that adjoins the Greenville watershed. We have three dogs and a hamster. We enjoy the solitude and beauty that our natural surroundings provide and the blessing of being stewards of this beautiful land upon which we live.

I intend to continue to paint for the remainder of my life. I am just beginning my journey in the fine art profession; therefore I have not entered any shows or competitions but will do so as more pieces are developed.

Interested inquiries, please contact me through FastFrame.

Thank you for your time and interest.