Michael Willett

In his paintings, MICHAEL WILLETT combines abstraction and realism by placing convincing portrayals of the human figure within bold fields of expressive brushwork. His exhibition Lost & Found is on view at the UC Clermont Art Gallery through Sept. 23, with a reception noon-2 p.m. Sept. 21. Here are five things that inspire Willett:

Expressions. Being a figurative painter, I find people's posture and facial expressions to be most interesting. I believe that doing as little as capturing one's eyes can say so much about someone whom you might not know.

My Wife. Though I paint many different subjects, my wife will always be my most inspiring muse. The good and bad aspects of our relationship always make for great paintings.

Music. I have always loved the colors of sounds and the narrative aspect of song lyrics. I also love the idea of musicians genre-hopping or fusing musical movements. The way Nirvana would mix Punk Rock with Beatles melodies inspires me to mix the realism of my figurative work with my love for abstract painting.

People. Total strangers, other artists, husbands, wives, lovers, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, teachers, mentors, friends, foes, celebrities, babies, children, elderly, rich, poor, native, foreign, ugly, beautiful, short, fat, tall, small.

Art. I love visiting museums and galleries. A Van Gogh painting printed in a textbook just doesn't do it any justice after you see one in person. I love how texture and brushstrokes say a lot about the process and emotions of the artist.