SITE NEWS

Welcome to the MPM Virtual Gallery!  You have entered the world of paintings by Michael P. Maness.  To begin browsing through the paintings, choose a category: Newest Additions, Music, Sports, Places, Animals, Things, People.

January 4, 2009 - Art show preview!

Good for the Heart original acrylic 12"x36"
Self Motivation original acrylic 24"x30" Gallery Wrapped
Metamorphosis original acrylic 18"x18"
River Front Loop 24"x30" Original Acrylic Gallery Wrapped

Three Horses and a Cowboy 12"x36" Original Acrylic
Mississippi Sunset 12"x36" Original Acrylic

The Tide 20"x20" Original Acrylic Gallery Wrapped
The Butterfly 20"x20" Original Acrylic Gallery Wrapped

January 3, 2009 -

ART SHOW BENEFITING THE WINGS FOUNDATION

The next Michael P. Maness ART show will be to help raise money for the Wings Cancer Foundation in Memphis, TN on Friday January 9, 2009, and will be beginning around 6 PM.

Location will be at the West Clinic at 100 N. Humphrey's Blvd, in East Memphis, right off Walnut grove.

These will be paintings that signify the symptoms and side-effects of Cancer. Not the physical torture and pain, but the mental side-effects of the success of being a survivor. Paintings will represent the Peace / Hope / Solitude / Metamorphosis / and the YES I Can feeling of beating the beast.

The party, will be from 6-9 PM, with an Open Bar provided by the Bacardi Family Foundation, Music by Memphis’s own Lannie McMillan, Food and around 25-30 pieces of ART by Michael P. Maness.

Mike Maness will be in Chemo so He will not participate in the Booze, and he'll be sitting down a lot.

January 2, 2009 - Join Mike on Facebook!

December 31, 2008 - Four new works

The Eiffel Tower of Love 30"x40" Original Acrylic
Painted for the 2009 Heart Gala it will be in the LIVE auction, but you can buy it before then and the money will go to the Memphis American Heart Foundation.

First Class Accommodations 36"x48" Original Acrylic SOLD
A western themed version of the VIP limousine treatment. A ride through John Ford's favorite filming location, Monument Valley Utah.  If you look on the Horizon you'll a mirage, or a fantasy -- Tunica's Horseshoe Casino.

Sheraton's 3 of a Kind 36"x48" Original Acrylic
Three Motorcycle's waiting for their Gambling Masters. All three are at the card tables -- two are doing very well at the table, the third is doing very well with his waitress.

Elway in Action

December 5, 2008 - More pictures straight from the show...

December 3, 2008 - If you have not been to ART Under a Hot Tin Roof by now, here's what you are missing.  The only thing better than seeing pictures of Mike's works on display is coming by to see them for yourself.  Now on display thru December 24th ... please, come check it out! :)

That last picture is Mike & Carla Perkins (granddaughter of Carl Perkins)

November 23, 2008 - SONGS is here.  Check out the complete list of available paintings (along with pricing) for the show.  On display now thru Dec. 24 at ART Under a Hot Tin Roof.

RAY $1000
22"x28" original acrylic
The Legendary Ray Charles throwing his head back with a reflection of the spot lights in his dark glasses, singing "Georgia on my Mind". The canvas features the showman at his best, in the final years of life. The look on Ray's face says it all,..confidence, pride, and how much he enjoyed showcasing his talents for his millions of fans.

DUKE $1000
22"X28" original acrylic
Straight from the smoky bars, and stages of the 1940's Duke Ellington. the Band Leader, the Song Writer, the Piano player, THE ENTERTAINER. A silhouette of the Duke with stage lights blaring putting a halo around him and his music

MARILYN "The Flirt" $2000 
24"X24" original acrylic
The Platinum of her hair shines in a multitude of colors, her face invites you to want to know more. Her eyes show Marilyn the Movie Star, yet if you look deeper you see the actress. Was she only an actress on stage and screen, or was she the better actress when it came to her real everyday life?

LUCKY LINDY $1000
18"x22" original acrylic
The flyers pilot, the inovater, the adventurer, "The Spirit of St. Louis's" father who proved long distance flight was a possibility and a money maker. I needed an ICON for aviators, and Lindy more than fit the bill. It was either Lindy or Fred Smith.

BABE RUTH $800
18"X22 original acrylic
The King of swat, the land lord of Yankee Stadium, Babe Ruth in all his tanned admiration,.. I stole the pose from a photo of the Babe and Gehrig standing in front of the dugout before the opening game of the 1927 World Series. His face is a glow with the cocky-ness that was his persona on and off the baseball diamond.

ABSTRACT MICKEY $1500
20"X24" original acrylic
Walt's baby boy, a head shot, a profile, a movie-star, an ICON,....not just a cartoon. The background is awash in the neon colors of his star. Mickey is a symbol of what can be accomplished with a dream. Walt Disney's favorite saying "Was,...remember it all began with a Mouse."

SLOW HAND $500
12"X36" original acrylic
Tall and Thin this canvas of Eric Clapton. It shows Eric, not the guitar God, but a man enjoying his trade, relaxed in his musical genius, bathed in the love of his fans.

THE BEATLES $2500
23”x36” original acrylic
The BEATLES, George, Paul, John, and Ringo, the leaders of the Liverpool invasion. The Fab Four in this pose are acting up, just like the 20 year old boys that they were. The photo that I took this from was shot by Paul’s future wife, Linda Eastman in 1965.

PETE WHO $750 
22”x28” original acrylic
Pete Townsand; the architect of the British Rock Legends, “The Who.”, Pete the helicopter guitarist, Pete the musical genius behind “Tommy” , Pete the lonely leader. 

THE PEACOCK $1000 
22”x28” original acrylic
Mick Jagger, the old man of Rock and Roll; when Mick takes the stage he prances, sticks out his lip, puffs out his chest, and entertains the world. This canvas does it’s best to showcase the arrogance of the performer in all his feathered adoration.

GARCIA $1200 
20”x20” original acrylic
The Greatful Dead, and their front man, Jerry Garcia, , the tour guide, of millions of Dead Heads who followed the band, around the world. Jerry was a tie dyed t-shirt that was the outer skin as well as the soul of the Greatful Dead.

SKINNY BASE $500
12”X36” original acrylic
This base player is my homage to Jazz. The base is the beat, the base is heart, the base is the soul. This colorful canvas puts the base fiddle in perspective, in the front of the audience where it belongs.

CELEBRATION $2500
30”x40” original acrylic
This can be a celebration of anything you want.

TIGER, Burning BRIGHT $1000 
18”X28” original acrylic
Tiger at his best, with the golden glow of a sunset behind him, he finishes the last of 18 holes.

JOHNNY CASH $500 
18”X18” original acrylic
The Man in black posed for glory. Cash began his career in Memphis, at the legendary Sun Studio under the guidance of Sam Phillips. Johnny ended up at Columbia Records in Nashville. Johnny had seen it all from high’s of his own TV show to the lows of drug addiction. I hope I captured his pain, in this painting.

It’s NOT as Easy as it Looks $800
24”X30 original acrylic
Michael Jordan, of the Chicago Bulls reaching up for a basketball for which we as the viewer knows that this will be good for 2 points. Michael known for his unbelievable leaps, bounds, and dunks, always made it look easy.

Three Wooden Crosses $5000 SOLD
Original Acrylic 24"x36"
Just like the song says,..3 wooden crosses on a highway, Every Cross, every grave, in every cemetery has a story.
with the lyrics of 3 Wooden Crosses added by Singer / Songwriter / Producer Doug Johnson

Dock of the Bay guitar $5000 SOLD
Original Acrylic Gibson Guitar
with the lyrics of the Otis Redding Hit Sitting on the Dock of the Bay added by Rock and Roll Legend Steve Cropper

Miss Liberty / Have you Forgotten $5000
Original Acrylic 30"x36"
with the lyrics of Darryl Worley's #1 song Have you Forgotten added by Country Superstar Darryl Worley

The Original Rock-a-Billy $1500
Original Acrylic 24"x24"
Jackson, Tennessee's favorite son and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of fame, Carl Perkins in one of his last photographs before he passed away.

Angels Among Us $5000
Original Acrylic 30”x40”
A Rock n Roll Guardian Angel, being the muse of his charge. Autographed by Alabama’s Lead Singer / Front man /songwriter / Hit maker Randy Owen 

My Town $5000
Original Acrylic 30”x40”
A visual representation of the Montgomery Gentry Classic hit, My Town. With the Lyrics added and autographed by both Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry.

Thunder through Chaos $5000
Original Acrylic 24”x48” Framed
Five White Stallions thundering through a Chaos of Color. 

Winter Grove $500
Original Acrylic 20”x24”
Pecan Trees, covered in the White frost, standing in a snow covered valley, being battered by the Freeze of a Winter’s breath.

Winter Blanket $500
Original Acrylic 18”x24”
A Wonderful Winter Wonderland blanketed in God’s Cold weather blanket of snow.

SUNSETS a Moment in Time $1000 both
Original Acrylic 12”x36” Framed
A Caribbean Sunset Captured as if by a stop motion camera. Showing the 4 o’clock Sun with it’s Baby Blue Sky, and the warm Teal waters. The second a 6 PM Brilliant Glow as it prepares for it’s magnificent, breath taking entrance into the sea.

Red Skirt $600
Original Acrylic 24”x24”
The Dream; your Fantasy woman, resting against your mythical ride, separately a wish, together they are Priceless.

Nudge it UP a Notch $2000
Original Acrylic 24”x24”
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s, Steve Cropper, legendary guitarist for Booker T and the MG’s and Felix Cavalerous, lead singer and front man of the Little Rascals, together in one amazing album. Helmed by Producing impresario Jon Tiven. This is the original Album cover.

Eyes Have It $400
Original Acrylic 16”x20”
A Good Martini, a Great Martini, and the jealous olives hoping to dive into lush liquid.

Isaac Hayes Chair $2000
Original Acrylic Cloth Chair
The seated back the last photo taken of Isaac Hayes during Pat Tigrett’s Spring Blues Ball Auction. The Back of the Chair has Isaac in his Gold Chains at the 1968 Wats STAX concert wearing his Gold Chains and singing his Hit song 
“Shaft”, to his millions of fans.

Autumn Melody $2000
Original Acrylic Coffee Table
Legendary Rock guitarist Jeff Beck’s hands playing a riff across the neck of his AX in the crisp autumn winds as the brightly colored leaves blow around him.

Thank GOD for Kid’s $5000
Original Acrylic 30”x40”
Kid’s in Love. A beautiful Little Girl resting on a Bench, with her Knight in Shining Armor reaching up for a gentle kiss. With the autograph’s of the Oak Ridge Boys;
William Lee Golden, Joe Bonsall, Duane Allen, and Richard Sterban.

November 14, 2008 - The first 4 canvases for the SONG series.  "My Town" has already been signed by the Country Super Star Group Montgomery Gentry.  "Achey Breaky Heart" the monster hit by Billy Ray Cyrus, "Three Wooden Crosses" written by my friend Doug Johnson,  and "Angels Among Us" written and performed  by Country Superstar Randy Owens.  My next paintings in my SONG Series will be "Have you Forgotten" the hit song written and performed by Country Superstar Darryl Worley, "Thank God for Kids" written by Eddy Raven, and performed by World Famous  Oak Ridge Boys, and My friend Steve Cropper has lent his coolaboration to me with a "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" guitar, my Artistic view of his and Otis Redding's incredible hit song.

These 4 along with 16 other will be for sale at my next ART event on November 23-Christmas, in Jackson, TN, at  the Art Under a Hot Tin Roof Gallery.  The opening will be a Brunch on Sunday November 23, 2008.  Please show up and give my ART some support.  Buy something and you'll put a smile on my face.  :-)

Other recently added works include...

November 14, 2008 -

(Photo Credit: Jon Mir)
The Oak Ridge Boys with Mike's Thank God For Kids

November 13, 2008 -

Randy Owen of Alabama signs Mike's "Angels Among Us" painting -- part of the 10 songs that will be featured in Mike's next ART show (November 23 @ Jackson, TN)

October 12, 2008 - Yankee Baseball Card & Heart of Memphis NEW now in the virtual gallery!

October 5, 2008 - Eddie Montgomery & Troy Gentry sign Mike's first collaboration in his SONG series for his next ART show (November 23 in Jackson, TN at ART Under a Hot Tin Roof).

October 1, 2008 - Mike's Celebration on display

September 15, 2008 - Another guitar painted by Mike for Mr. Cropper.  Donated by Angel and Steve to a Children's Charity in Hawaii.

Photos By: Tawnee Lynn
I  am lucky enough to once again have the Rock and Roll Legend Steve Cropper be my collaborator.

September 7, 2008 - 

The VOLCANO Guitar
A collaboration betwixt Singer, Songwriter, Keith Sykes. Keith's unforgettable song "Volcano" which was recorded by Jimmy Buffet inspired the ART. On the Front, a peaceful serene moment in paradise. A red and Golden sunset. Imagine a gentle breeze blowing through the tall Palm Trees. Feel the white caps of the warm teal waters of the Caribbean brushing up against your leg. On the back, just the opposite, the peaceful island paradise is disrupted by the Power, the Explosion, from the top of the mountain. 

September 6, 2008 - Behold Mike's ART for the "Blues Ball" being held on September 27, in Memphis, Tennessee ( taking up an entire block in Downtown)

August 24, 2008 - Good Health Memphis Magazine cover story now reprinted below ...

Artist Michael P. Maness couldn’t be any less original or colorful than his acrylic paintings that leave a bold, vibrant impression.

Born in Memphis and raised in the Midwest, Maness possesses an intensity and passion that drives his conversations, his actions and his values. All of which have led this artist to support charitable causes across the city while he continues his own fight against cancer. With September recognized as Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Month, Maness’ own story bears great weight.

His career began early—very early. “When I was 8 years old, I sold my first piece to Jack and Jill magazine. I’ve been selling art forever,” he says. Maness continued on, contributing to Mad magazine, Playboy, TV Guide and Newsweek.

His creativity hasn’t always been tied just to the visual arts. Equally adept with words, Maness spent years in advertising and marketing working as an illustrator, writer and marketing consultant. In 1980, he came to Memphis and began working with William B. Tanner. “I’m a marketer who knows how to draw and write,” says Maness with a chuckle.

He has written several children’s books for theme parks, has created coloring books and even wrote a book on how to prepare for a bone marrow transplant.

With his characteristic dry humor, Maness says that he got into art for one reason. “It’s called rebellion. I had a brother who was a star athlete and a sister who was a beauty, then there was me. I figured out this was something I could do.”

For over a decade, Maness has been fighting another battle against cancer. He’s a four-time survivor of lymphoma after bouts of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and a stem cell transplant. He made a decision early on after his 1996 diagnosis.

“I thought if I lived, what would I do or achieve? I decided to give back and raise money by donating paintings. The more you give, the more you get back.”

He began painting out of necessity as his health spiraled. He found painting provided some relief from the angry, paranoid feelings that he felt as a result of his medicines. He started with sports painting, using very bright colors.

In 2007, Maness donated works to over 80 different charities, helping to raise money through auctions. His originals have sold for as much as $15,000 while his prints range around $400. Last year, he donated 28 originals. He has donated to hospitals like Methodist and to country singers like Montgomery Gentry. “It doesn’t bother me to give them away. Goals change and cancer changed me. It gave me the incredible goals of wanting to raise money for people I’ve never met,” says Maness.

Maness says when he was younger he would sell a drawing for a hamburger or a kiss—and laughs at the memories. His work reflects his fascination with women, night life, movement and color. Within each painting, he leads the eye and intrigues with one question…what’s the story here? He calls this the “WOW, the what, and the hmmm.” He layers colors, blending one on top of another to create certain tones and hues.

As this piece goes to print, Maness is once again battling cancer as he begins another round of treatment which will last four weeks and steal his strength. But even as he talks about it, he is resolved. “The only success is the one you struggle to get. I’ve learned to be happy with small goals and run with my eyes open.”

If his art teaches one thing, it’s that everyone has a story. In sharing his story and his works, Maness reminds that the gift of giving is a talent in itself. 

Visit Michael’s colorful world at artbympm.com or contact Michael directly about his work at mpmaness@gmail.com.

August 17, 2008 - Mike's upcoming events ...

• September 27 - Blues Ball Guitar. A collaboration between me and Keith Sykes. The painting on the front will be a calm, peaceful Caribbean Island, with a bit of a hill. The back with be an exploding Volcano with Keith writing the lyrics to his famous song he wrote for Jimmy Buffet,.."VOLCANO."  I've also been asked to paint a tribute to Isaac Hayes which will be displayed at the Blues Ball.

• September 28 - The Wish Factory has asked and been given Giclees and Lithographs to be in their silent auction.

• October - I travel to Nashville for the Steve Cropper Classic, where the donations will be a canvas and a guitar. Also sometime in October I hope to visit my Galleries in Mexico. The Orpheum has asked that I paint a tribute to Isaac Hayes on my annual Chair.

• November - a one man show on Musical Genius's in Jackson, Tennessee.

• December - If all goes as planned in December I'll be on a journey to Cuba, and then January 2009 another round of my Chemo Band-aid.

August 15, 2008 - Mike's ICONS art show at Playhouse on the Square is here!

Where in the world are Mike's Paintings?
*NEW* Online Map showing where Mike's canvases now live across the country.  Click the image below for a larger view

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