Michael Sass: Landscape Perfection

SummaryMichael Sass, the internationally recognised and award winning artist, is now exhibiting at the newly re-launched Cargo Shed on Dive Crescent. Main Body
It was great to happen upon a collection of his wonderful work as I wandered through the many 'new-look' stalls in a transformed art space a few weekends ago.
Exposed, as we are, to such a wide variety of genres in art and being able to appreciate them all, it is refreshing to see landscape realism at its very best right here in Tauranga.
The attention to detail, astute observation and masterful use of his chosen media are perfectly demonstrated in these outstanding artworks.
Michael is a 'new Kiwi' having migrated to New Zealand from South Africa in 2000.
With no formal art training and despite being artistic all his life, Michael only began painting and drawing in the last 12 years.
Having dabbled in many mediums, Michael soon developed a preference for the versatility of pastel with its enormous range of colours, its permanence and non-fade qualities.
Soon after arriving in New Zealand, Michael was encouraged by a friend to enter a work in the Molly Morpeth Cannaday Awards in Whakatāne where he won his first award-Best Pastel Drawing. This encouragement set Michael on his path and to be the recipient of numerous awards nationwide.
In many of the exhibitions he enters he often wins 'The Peoples' Choice Award', which shows the wide popular appeal Michael's landscape realism has generated.
Michael Sass at work in the newly relaunched Cargo Shed.
Michael's forte is his ability to execute extra-large pastel paintings in exact painstaking detail.
This attention to detail is depicted in his love of painting rocky rivers and lakes so that the rocks and pebbles are actually seen under the water. His unique style with pastels is something that he developed himself with time and practice and each new painting brings new ideas and excitement.
The highlight of Michael's artistic career occurred this year when he was invited by the organisers of the Mortimore Prize in Australia to submit two works for their 2011/2012 exhibition.
He submitted an Australian scene entitled 'Mermaids Pools' and a New Zealand work, 'South Island Memories' and both were selected as finalists.
In a field of an exceptionally high standard, Michael was the only Kiwi to be selected as a finalist and he won a highly commended for his work 'Mermaids Pools'.
Michael's Australian prize winning work 'Mermaids Pools'.
On returning from Australia at the end of September, Michael opened his mini-gallery in Tauranga's Cargo Shed selling canvas and paper prints of his works.
These are signed and numbered limited edition prints.Michael can be seen in action at the Cargo Shed every weekend and every day when there is a cruise ship in the harbour. His originals can be viewed at his home by appointment.
You can see more of Michael's work on www.michaelsassartist.com and he can be contacted at michaelsassartist@gmail.com
by Pete Morris (12 December 2011).
Pete Morris is an occasional painter and an art lover who has a particular interest in promoting the visual arts in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty

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This page archived at Perma CC in November of 2016: https://perma.cc/JZ24-WXUF

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Mermaids Pools by Michael Sass

Michael Sass at work in the newly relaunched Cargo Shed

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AcknowledgementTe Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries

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First Name(s)Michael SurnameSass

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PeopleTauranga Memories (2011-2021) - PeopleEventsPete Morris: Art Profiles (2011-2018)

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AuthorPete MorrisArchived Kete Linkhttps://perma.cc/JZ24-WXUFType of ContributionCommunity story Last edited by: Matanga Taonga Tuku Iho Maori

Last edited by: Matanga Taonga Tuku Iho Maori

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Michael Sass: Landscape Perfection