Michael Freeman
MASTER ARTIST
Mastrius Artist Mentor
This artist is mentoring at Mastrius. Visit our How It Works page for membership details.

Mentoring Emerging Artists
Not sure if you’re an emerging artist? Visit our How It Works page.
MEDIUMS: Soft Pastel
SPECIALTY: ✔ Technique ✔ Marketing
*Mentoring alongside Julie Freeman
Michael is an international award winning hyperrealistic artist from New Zealand who has had a fascination with realism since childhood and his main medium is pastel. In his artwork he strives to create images that have greater depth and feeling than can be achieved with a photograph.
Starting initially with acrylics, before discovering the wonderful medium of pastel – which suits his hyperrealistic style and love of detail.
Michael’s subjects range from his current series of still life paintings featuring iconic New Zealand toys and objects, through – landscapes featuring old weathered sheds, barns, railway carriages, windows and doors, old locks, and farm animals (mainly cows) – all inspired from photographic trips along New Zealand’s roads.
Michael’s EXPERTISE
Listed below are this Mentor’s specialty skills. Join this group if you want to grow in these areas.
Specialty: ✔ Technique ✔ Marketing
Technical:
Color & Composition
Technique Demos
Studio setup for art production
Supplies and tools – what to use, where to save, and where to spend
Teaching to Self Critique
Providing Art Critiques
Marketing:
Shows & Exhibits
Social Media
Artist Statement & CV
Marketing & Branding
Business:
Pricing Artwork
Approaching Galleries
Running your art business the day-to-day
Studio time management
Products, prints, & reproductions
“Mastrius has done wonders for my confidence. I have managed to step way outside of my comfort zone which has in turn given rise to so many more opportunities to further my art career.”
~ Deb, Emerging Artist
JOIN NOW
select your mentorship group
If the group you’re interested in has a waitlist, you have the option to join another group to get started. When your group opens we can transfer you over.
Emerging
Mentorship Membership- Next session: May 24, 2023
- On the 4th Wednesday of every month
- This global group meets at:
12:00 AM - 2:00 AM MDT Wed
2:00 AM - 4:00 AM EDT Wed
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM BST Wed
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM AEST Wed
...and your timezone too!
Contact us if you need help
MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST

Michael is in the Master Circle of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS/MC), is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA), and a Master pastellist of Pastel Artists of New Zealand (MPANZ) and has a Master of Fine Arts degree (MFA) University of Illinois, USA, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (BFA) Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland University, NZ.
Michael went to Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland, to be a painter and left a product designer. However after a successful design career in 2010 he decided to return to his passion for painting.