Michael Fishel: Creations

Michael Fishel
Creations

Big Vision Publishing, 2015

Any discussion of the practitioners of what is termed 'visionary', 'hippie', or 'new age' art during the 70s and 80s (and unto today) necessarily must include Michael Fishel.

Fishel (b. 1950) grew up in Indiana, Florida, and Texas. Upon his discharge from the military in 1971, he briefly attended art college in Indianapolis but became disillusioned by the curriculum and decided to set up his own studio, where he spent 10 – 12 hours a day honing his skills. 

In 1975, Fishel entered the realm of commercial art when his work came to the attention of UK publisher Peter Ledeboer, of Big O poster fame. Fishel joined the ranks of the company’s artists, who included such well-known personalities as Roger Dean, Mati Klarwein, Virgil Finlay, and Jim Burns. 

A commission for illustrations for publisher TSR (‘Dungeons and Dragons’) followed in 1982. During the 80s and thereafter, Fishel’s works were used as covers for books, well as for the jigsaw puzzle and poster markets. 

At present, posters and puzzles of Fishel's paintings (including works not featured in 'Creations') be obtained through his website. 

'Michael Fishel: Creations’ (72 pp) was published in 2015 by Big Vision Publishing, a firm Fishel created to showcase visionary artwork. 

'Creations' provides a chronological overview of Fishel’s art, accompanied by essays describing his approach to the themes expressed in his works. He also offers anecdotes about entering, and thriving, in the commercial art world. 

A glance at any of Fishel's works will immediately impart to the viewer the meticulous attention to detail that this artist brings to his compositions. To say that exceptional craftsmanship is on display is superfluous.

Indeed, the nature of Fishel's artwork is such that with dimensions of 11 1/2 x 9 inches, 'Creations' has inherent limitations in its ability to display the art at the level of resolution that its detailed nature demands. In fact, trying to discern everything that is depicted in the double-page reproduction of 'Creator' (the 1977 painting that serves as the cover to 'Creations') can be difficult unless magnifying spectacles are employed.......

I finished 'Creations' thinking that, short of obtaining puzzles (which are 30 x 24 inches) and posters of the depicted artwork, there really is no current form of image reproduction that will allow the viewer to fully take in the totality of Fishel's works. That said, if a publisher like Titan Books, or Taschen, or Fantagraphics, should elect to issue a large-size book of Fishel's paintings, that would be wonderful. 

At present, Fishel's website sells screensavers for a number of his paintings (including his more recent hot rod art) for just $1 each. 

You also can purchase poster-size prints of Fishel's art. Here's a photograph of Autumn Rendevous, a laminated poster sized 36.5 x 24.5 inches, hanging on my wall. I got it from The Blacklight Zone, through Walmart, for $20. 

Summing up, devotees of Visionary Art, Hippie Art, New Age art, or any combination of the above, likely will find 'Creations' worth reading. And anyone contemplating art as a career will want to see what could be done in the era before digital art tools were in use.