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Michael Kessler’s paintings on canvas or panel frequently achieve an astonishing illusion of depth, a result of their building up of multilayered surfaces–sometimes as many as 100– and his extraordinary technique. Using custom-made hand tools, he scrapes, scratches and trowels away selective areas to reveal earlier layers. Kessler doesn't pre-plan his work, instead trusting his instincts to tell him what to do. The artist describes his work methods as “like an improvisatory dance.”
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Just as with his works on panel, Michael Kessler’s abstractions on paper are multilayered, with various layers scraped or scratched away to create what one art critic calls their “compelling visual depth.” Writers often compare his works, whose predominant colors usually are earth tones, with such processes of nature as geological layers. Their waxy finishing layer contributes to the remarkable luminance and depth of the works on paper.
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Kessler’s small format paintings on paper reflect the same meticulous technique as his larger ones. Many viewers express astonishment at his remarkable ability to create a sense of depth in his smaller works, but the artist uses as many layers and unique touches on these paper works as he does on his large paintings on canvas or panel. Like many artists, Kessler often works on a series with different designs in the same palette, thus these works are highly effective when hung as a group.
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