Michael Bessler
Bolingbrook, IL - United States
Michael Bessler - Fine Artist
Member Since: 10/06/2007
Mike Bessler’s passion is to create enhanced photographs on canvas that will capture the awe of nature. He particularly enjoys creating and printing large images that combine his artistic vision with his technical expertise.
His work has been shown at the Oakbrook Fine Art Invitational where he received a first place award. Some of his images can also be seen in the Carriage Trade Art Gallery in Long Grove, Illinois; lobby of Edward Hospital Outpatient Center, Plainfield, Illinois; lobby of Edward Hospital, Naperville, Illinois as part of their Healing Arts program; at the Plainfield Art League Gallery, Plainfield, Illinois; and at the Naperville Art League Gallery, Naperville, Illinois; Edward Hospital fitness center on Washington St, Naperville, Illinois as part of the Edward Hospital Permanent Art Collection. His work has been sold nation-wide to both private consumers and corporations.
Mike has donated generously to various charities including the Fox in A Box charity by Judy Fox, the Starlight - Starbright Foundation, the Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center, Edward Hospital Healing Arts program in Naperville, Illinois, and most recently the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Mike enjoys sharing his passion with others as he teaches photography workshops at Starved Rock State Park each year.
You can see more of Mike’s images at besphoto.com and michael-bessler.artistwebsites.com.
Artists Statement:
Years ago, I traveled with my family to the Grand Canyon. The view was awe-inspiring. I shot rolls of film expecting to capture the majesty of the sight. Many will relate to my disappointment when I had the photographs developed – the awe was just not there. That is when I resolved to learn how to bring home the awe!
As I developed my photography skills, I began to experiment with enhancing my photographs to capture what I had felt. At first, I looked exclusively for realism – enhancing colors when the photograph seemed to have muted them, for instance. More recently, I have enjoyed creating impressionistic renderings of my images that give the feel of the original scene.
The final step was to learn the technical skills to print my own images allowing me to print exactly what I wanted to see.
Now, my images are mine from the first look through the viewfinder of my camera, through the enhancing process and the printing. Now I am feeling the awe!
