Michael Sheldon

Former Royal Marines Commando turned Artist painting mainly portraits in oil and pastel

[michaelrobertsheldon]

I am very happy to share that my painting “Pain or Relief” is now a finalist in the 16th International ARC Salon Competition @artrenewalcenter in the figurative category. I am truly honoured to be amongst great artists, thank you for following my art journey! • • • • • • #michaelsheldon #painorrelief #oilpainting #arcsalon #16tharcsalon #chiaroscuro #londonartist #wirralartist #formerroyalmarinescommando #arcsaloncompetition #oilonaluminum #arcsalonfinalist https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckdl-mVIyjE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[michaelrobertsheldon]

Why So Serious! The legend that is Heath Ledger, Pencil In sketchbook. I added a bit of charcoal to the darks and it lost a bit of detail but that’s why we do sketch books! Possibly something I would like to do a painting of in colour in future, I love the darkness and the relevance of the broken glass. In my opinion the best Batman film. • • • • #artsketchbook #londonartist #wirralartist #jokerart #batmanart #heathledger #formerroyalmarinescommando #michaelsheldon #pencildrawing #pencilonpaper #a5sketchbook https://www.instagram.com/p/CiArGdqjoAD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[michaelrobertsheldon]

A blank Aluminium Panel. I’ve not painted a detailed laborious oil painting in a while. Hopefully in a few months time I will have something completed on here. It’s also going to be a landscape, trying something new…… 😬. #newoilpainting #aluminiumpanel #michaelsheldon #londonartist #wirralartist https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca5F_2kLnGX/?utm_medium=tumblr

[michaelrobertsheldon]

“Jamie” 30” x 24” Oil on canvas. 3 hours. Not my usual way of painting I have decided to do a series of 6 portraits all done within a 3 hour time cap. This will help me become structured and allow me to just paint. The 2nd photo shows progress shots from 1st hour, 2nd hour and 3rd hour. First painting of the year in my new studio. • • • #speedpainting #3hourpainting #portraitartist #oilpainting #michaelsheldon #oiloncanvas #formerroyalmarinescommando https://www.instagram.com/p/CYZhl6fojRB/?utm_medium=tumblr

[michaelrobertsheldon]

“What do babies dream of” Pastel on pastelmat paper. 43cm x 28cm. Finished just in time for Xmas. Experimenting mixing Realism with Expressionism. • • • • #realismmeetsexpressionism #babyportrait #pastelmat #portraitartist #formerroyalmarinescommando #michaelsheldon #pastelportrait #britishartist https://www.instagram.com/p/CX39SMvI01_/?utm_medium=tumblr

[michaelrobertsheldon]

[michaelrobertsheldon]

New studio space finished at the bottom of the garden. A big thank you to @bexleygardenrooms for their fantastic work, I highly recommend to anyone and they are all really nice chaps. Standby for some more artwork in the coming months! #gardenroom #artstudio #artspace #artiststudio #bexleygardenrooms #paintingspace #paintingroom https://www.instagram.com/p/CXlgJ3EowGu/?utm_medium=tumblr

[michaelrobertsheldon]

“7 seconds old” 2021, 59cm x 35cm. Pastel on pastelmat. Some people like to do a photoshoot of their newborns with a bow on their head, wrapped up in a basket. I’ve gone for a more natural approach. • • • #pastelart #newbornbaby #givingbirth #babyportrait #babyartportrait #newbornbabyart #pastelmat #pasteldrawing #chiaroscuro #formerroyalmarinescommando #michaelsheldon https://www.instagram.com/p/CVI87MqIvNQ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[michaelrobertsheldon]

“Ludo” 2021, 70 x 50cm, Pastel on pastelmat paper. To finish off my last pick is my most recent pastel piece. I tried to get as much detail as possible using pastel which is quite a task. This is Ludo my sister in laws dog named after the composter Ludovico Einaudi. He is a working cocker spaniel and It is probably the longest he has ever stayed still, with the help of a treat. This painting made the Jacksons Painting Prize Longlist 2021. #chiaroscuro #dogsofinstagram #dogportrait #workingcockerspaniel #pastelmat #pastelart #pastelpencils #formerroyalmarinescommando #petportrait #michaelsheldon https://www.instagram.com/p/CSJIWO9j3Hu/?utm_medium=tumblr

[michaelrobertsheldon]

“Lockdown” 2020 24” x 18” Oil paint on aluminium panel. With no sitters available due to lockdown I again painted another self portrait. This was similar approach to one of my previous paintings “Pain or Relief” where I used only titanium white and ivory black oil paints. In and around work it took me 9 months to complete. It was a challenge to get this one finished although I was happy with the level of detail I felt as if the composition was not as good as my previous works. #wirralartist #londonartist #britishartist #realism #hyperrealism #oilpainting #chiaroscuro #oilportrait #oilportraitpainting #verism #verismo #formerroyalmarinescommando #michaelsheldon https://www.instagram.com/p/CSGa1xGD6K0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[michaelrobertsheldon]

“Edward” 2019 Oil on Aluminium panel 80cm x 60cm. I still can’t seem to get a decent photo of this piece with the shine, it really does look better in the flesh. This is probably technically my best painting, I veered away from using any medium, opting to use paint straight from the tube. I again started with a grisaille albeit a bit more simple to get the basic composition and then layers of colour. This painting made the JOPP 2020 longlist. #oilonaluminium #oilonaluminiumpanel #londonartist #wirralartist #oilportrait #britishartist #realism #hyperrealism #verism #verismo #formerroyalmarinescommando #michaelsheldon https://www.instagram.com/p/CSEC7fAja_k/?utm_medium=tumblr

[michaelrobertsheldon]

“Bootneck” 2019, pastel on pastelmat paper 40cm x 30cm. This pastel artwork piece was donated and auctioned off with the proceeds going to Help Our Wounded Royal Marines and Supporting Arms charity. They raised the amazing sum of £1000! Being a former Royal Marine I wanted to give something back. I looked through reference photos of the talented Navy Photographer @stevie__burke with his kind permission and I was able to construct this image in my style. #pastelartist #wirralartist #londonartist #bootneck #charityauction #chiaroscuro #royalmarinescommando #formerroyalmarinescommando #royalmarines #michaelsheldon https://www.instagram.com/p/CSBnQgvDN0q/?utm_medium=tumblr

[michaelrobertsheldon]

“Pain or Relief” 2019, Oil on Aluminium Panel size 61cm x 46cm. Painted over a timeframe of around 3 months, I used only Titanium White and Ivory Black oil paints. This painting was shortlisted in the Jackson’s Open Painting Prize 2019 @jacksons_painting_prize and the @kenbromleyart magazine cover competition. This is probably my most favoured piece. 20 signed and numbered Giclée prints were made from this and it’s a real pleasure to have them hanging from peoples walls. #instaart #wirralartist #londonartist #britishartist #realism #hyperrealism #oilpainting #chiaroscuro #oilportrait #oilportraitpainting #hands #skin #britishartist #formerroyalmarinescommando #figurativeart #jacksonsopenpaintingprize2019 #michaelsheldon https://www.instagram.com/p/CR_CgoWDNdW/?utm_medium=tumblr

[michaelrobertsheldon]

“Essence” Oil on Aluminium 61cm x 46cm. Carrying on with the chiaroscuro theme this turned into quite a haunting painting and I don’t think the photo does it justice. This was the start of my obsession with detail which grew on to my later paintings. #oilpainting #portraitpainting #portraiture #realism #hyperrealism #chiaroscuro #detailedpainting #art #artist #verism #verismo #formerroyalmarinescommando #michaelsheldon https://www.instagram.com/p/CR8fxG4jA9g/?utm_medium=tumblr

[michaelrobertsheldon]

10th anniversary of our self titled album is now available on most major music platforms including Spotify, iTunes etc. San Harbor was formed in 2009 and the album was recorded in 2010 by Mike Johnson (Pink Floyd, Joy Division, New Order). • • #albumrelease #sanharbor #wirral #wirralband #liverpoolband #liverpoolbands https://www.instagram.com/p/COoQ56TDqI3/?igshid=15c0mpryza1ob

[michaelrobertsheldon]

Really happy to be back racing again, Maverick Trail Run 23k Long route last weekend was a fantastic scenic start. Races are slowly filling up the calendar! @maverickrace #trailrunning #obstaclecourseracing #triathlon #triathlete #obstaclecourseracer #formerroyalmarinescommando (at Vigo, Kent) https://www.instagram.com/p/CN-fgt2DTMw/?igshid=11aijoauuvfq4

[michaelrobertsheldon]

Really happy to learn that my pastel piece “Ludo” has made it through the @jacksons_painting_prize #JPP2021 #jacksonspaintingprize #chiaroscuro #animalart #pasteldrawing #londonartist #wirralartist #michaelsheldon #formerroyalmarinescommando https://www.instagram.com/p/CMhkzsMDhJs/?igshid=fjsspfq5cgp3