Athena

Michael Parkes is an American-born artist specializing in fantasy painting, stone lithography and sculpture. Parkes' work is widely available in the form of popular poster prints in many print shops, and nine books of his artwork have been published.

Parkes was born in 1944 and grew up in Canalou, Missouri. He studied graphic art and painting at the University of Kansas, and in his early career, he painted in the abstract expressionist style common among his teachers. In 1970, he married Maria Sedoff, an artist and musician. The spent three years in India during which Parkes gave up art for study and reflection. After he returned to art, he began to draw and paint in the meticulous style of detailed representation for which he is known today.

Parkes and his wife moved to Spain in 1973 where they continue to live today.

In 2005, Parkes was invited by the town of Sanary sur Mer, France, to be their guest of honor for a celebration of magic realism. The week-long events were recorded by French national television.

In 2007, Parkes' work inspired a contemporary ballet production by Scorpius Dance Theater of Phoenix, where his art came alive in the ballet's sets and characters.

Michael Parkes official site

-- September 21, 2007