About Michael Teel

I was born in Brooklyn, NY. Both my parents were from West Virginia. My father died in a construction accident in 1963 and we were forced to move back to West Virginia.

I went to college at West Virginia State University, then onto The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. After college, I moved to the Washington, DC area and resided there until 2006.

I've worked as a graphic designer for 30 years for several small Advertising and Design firms and one fortune 500 company in the Washington DC area. I'm currently the owner of Teel Design Group, offering logo design and branding, web development and digital marketing with a focus on businesses, associations, and nonprofit organizations.

I have a great wife of 25 years, 2 daughters that are still at home, and two grown children (adults now) that are making their own mark in the world. I'm now a grandfather nine times over.

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I have exhibited in many juried art shows throughout the state. In 2019 I was awarded Best in Show at the Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show. I had two pieces selected for the West Virginia Culture and History Juried Show. My painting "Friends of Fossilized Carbon" won an Award of Excellence that includes purchase and inclusion into the state's permanent collection and in 2016 my painting "Death of a Father" received a second-place award at the Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show. I was also chosen as a featured artist in the Longridge Review.

On September 17, 2015, I had my first one-man show at the Art Emporium in Charleston, WV. The show was titled "Canaan to Charleston: Painting West Virginia by Michael Teel", It included landscapes and figurative work with an eye toward life in this wonderful state.

For several years I've been contributing to a blog where I post paintings and my thoughts on subject matter and processes. I started out with mostly smaller paintings, 6" x 6" still life as a way to hone my skills after a long absence from painting. I have my own website, www.MichaelTeel.com, where I display my work.

Recently I've discovered my love for Plein air painting, especially in the Canaan Valley area of West Virginia. Our family spends part of our summers at a friend's cabin.

Shows and Exhibits

• Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show - 2 pieces selected, Best of Show - 2019

• Tamarack Best of West Virginia Juried Show - 2 pieces selected, Second Place - 2017

• Featured on ArtVoiceWV - 2016 >link

• West Virginia Allied Artists Juried Show - 2016

• West Virginia Culture and History Juried Show - 2 pieces selected, Award of Excellence. - 2015

• Featured Artist - Longridge Editors Blog - 2015

• Solo Gallery Exhibit, Art Emporium, Charleston, WV - 2015

• West Virginia Allied Artists Juried Show - 2014

• Tri State Artists Juried Show - 2013

• West Virginia Allied Artists Juried Show - 2012