Michael Tebo is an artist living in Westminster. As a child, he liked coloring and got interested in art when he tried to draw using books by Walter Foster, an art instructor and writer.
He learned about different media during grade school, where he also dabbled in drawing.
He did not pursue art until 2004, when his wife convinced him to taking a class at the Fink School of Traditional Art in Reisterstown.
Alan Fink teaches in an old masters style. He teaches charcoal first and then pastels.
“He was very inspirational, getting me on the right track,” Tebo said. “One of the biggest things I learned was value and light and dark. Ever since then, I have done a lot of underpainting. An underpainting is done in black, white and burnt umber and then the color goes on top. Seeing it in black and white shows the light and the dark of how the image looks.” Tebo took four years of 10-week classes from Fink.
From there, Tebo created more art. “I got to the point that I had figured it out. It is the creative aspect of what I was trying to create. I got better,” he said.
Tebo likes to paint landscapes, pet portraits and still life. “I love setting the still life up. I like to play with lighting and shadows,” Tebo said.
“The approach of building a painting begins with an underpainting,” Tebo said. “Then I block in big shapes and lines. I try to find the design aspect of the painting. Then I get into the finer detail. There is a middle stage and I start getting into color. Then we move into the final finishing of the painting, which is the detail. I try to find the fine line between detail and not doing too much. I add the darkest darks and the lightest lights last.”
Tebo paints from what he sees in a photograph but does not paint exactly what is in the photograph. He uses his imagination. He adds and takes away.
“You do not want to copy the photograph,” Tebo said.
“I like to paint outside. I get out locally when I see something I want to paint. Plein air painting can be tough because of the weather,” Tebo said. “I prefer to be a studio painter, and I have my own studio.”
His main media are acrylics, oils and pastels. Acrylic is his favorite right now. “I do not have the patience for oil or watercolor.”
Tebo likes Andrew Tischler’s paintings because of his ability to do representational art. Tebo leans toward realism.
Tebo is participating in the “Glories of Spring Exhibit,” a multimedia exhibit at The Gribs Gallery and Studio in New Windsor, 208 Main St., through June 28. Gribs Gallery is open from 4-6 p.m. on Friday evenings and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The gallery can be reached at 443-536-9198. The show features 22 artists with 55 pieces of artwork.
Tebo’s website is mvtebofineart.com.
Lyndi McNulty is the owner of Gizmo’s Art in Westminster. Her column, An Eye for Art, appears regularly in Life & Times.