Artist Bio

Howard Michaels was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. After graduating from William Paterson University (Wayne, New Jersey) in 1975, he was offered a contract to teach art for the Department of Education in New South Wales, Australia. After two years in the public schools, which afforded him many opportunities to travel, he embarked on a three month adventure hopping the islands of the South Pacific. You can see some of his photographic images under Artist Mediums/World Photos.  

Upon returning to the United States, Michaels explored many creative mediums, including self-publishing two books in the 1980’s, with co-author Marsha Cudworth, on Cape May NJ. Victorian Holidays, a guide to B&B Inns and restaurants and Self-Guided Architectural Tours were fully illustrated by the authors and were innovative guides published at the height of Cape May’s renaissance as a popular vacation spot. In 1983 Shirley Homer of the New York Times reviewed Victorian Holidays and wrote, “Reading it is a pleasure throughout”.

Through the 1980’s and 1990’s, Michaels’ interest in historical scenes from his home state led him to develop a collection of original Black and White vintage Jersey Shore photographs, which he individually hand-tinted, using photo oils. A full page featuring his skill and unique subject matter was selected, along with work by forty other American artists, to appear in The Marshall’s Hand Coloring Guide and Gallery Book (Grace and George Schaub, 1995).

Website examples can be seen in the menu under Artist Mediums/ Hand Tinted Photographs.

In the early 1990s, Michaels launched his career in the New Jersey public school system as an art teacher, retiring in 2018. Throughout it all, he always maintained his persona as a practicing fine artist. 

From mixed media collage of 1960’s iconic fashion models (Artist Mediums/ Retro Fashion) to his creative and sometimes humorous photographic collages (Artist Mediums/ Photographic Collages), Michaels has maintained a steady production of eclectic and creative works.

In 2016 Michaels found an artistic niche with his one-of-a-kind graphic portraits of music legends and people he admires and respects (Artist Mediums/ Urban Pop). These unique portraits are created mostly on wood panels using hand cut stencils, spray and acrylic paint. Included on the website are rock stars Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, synth-pop singer Annie Lennox, R&B/jazz singer Amy Winehouse, as well as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and environmental activist Greta Thunberg.