Dreaming of Flight

'Dreaming of Flight', Acrylic and Alkyd on Canvas by Paul Micich

This painting is from the artist's Paper Airplane series. A woman in silvery blue sits serenely against a black background with her arms crossed and eyes closed as her mind explodes with white dreams escaping the canvas.

"I’m drawn to the dreamers
where are they going?
where will things end up?
is it just a dream?
just?
NEVER" -- Paul Micich

"I was a musician before I was an artist. It informs all my work. There’s that place between the necessity of discipline and the necessity of letting go, of following a map and then throwing it away. The face I found in this canvas led me to a place where there was no map, no footpath, just the exuberance of the paint and the brush and whoever I am.
The people who inhabit my paintings are dreamers, but I can’t will their dreams, or the viewer’s connection to them. I can only search for them, one brushstroke at a time, one beat at a time, until I hear their music. Then I can hope you’ll hear it too.

Micich’s work has earned him Gold and Silver awards from the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles. His work has been chosen to be in illustration annuals for Communication Arts magazine, The Society of Illustrators (New York) and Spectrum International Annual for Fantastic Art.

His illustrated edition of the book, "The Littlest Angel," has sold over 1.4 million copies. His illustrated book, "She Taught Me to Eat Artichokes," by Mary Kay Shanley, has been a regional best-seller. Micich illustrated "The Memory Box" and "Rhythm of the Seasons," also picture books with stories written by Mary Kay Shanley.

Micich’s band, WORLD PORT, plays his original “world-view” instrumental music. They have five CDs. Micich has performed throughout the Midwest and the nation, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. WORLD PORT has played for art festivals in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota, California and Washington State.

Featured Artist: Art on the Prairie, Perry, Iowa
La Poste Gallery: Perry, Iowa
Clear Lake Art Center: Clear Lake, Iowa