Carrollton native Michael Tole wins $50,000 art prize

by Minnie Payne

CARROLLTON — When 28-year-old Carrollton artist Michael Tole entered The Hunting Art Prize $50,000 contest in Houston, with over 900 entrants, in April, he crossed his fingers.

“I hadn’t allowed myself to hope that I might, win,” said Tole. “I was so sure the prize went to someone else that when they announced that the winner lived in Irving, I started trying to think of other artists I knew in Irving. When I finally realized it was me they were talking about, I was overjoyed.”

The Hunting Art Prize, sponsored by the international oil services company Hunting PLC, is open to all Texans at least 18 years old, and offers established artists, newcomers, and amateurs an opportunity to vie for the $50,000 award. Founded in 1981, it has a significant record of identifying and distinguishing artists, and has built a reputation as one of the richest art competitions in North America.

Tole’s oil painting, a 60” X 80” piece, called Untitled (Woman), was selected through a two-tiered jury process based in Houston, and celebrated at a gala at the Decorative Center of Houston on April 28. The 104 finalists had no clue who the winner was until the event.

“My knees went a little weak, and my wife started crying,” he said. “We were thrilled. I got to the podium and didn’t have the faintest idea what to say. I thanked my wife, my gallery owner, and the Hunting Art Prize.”

As part of the competition, guests are allowed to purchase the displayed art. Hunting matches a portion of the art sold for a donation to SIRE, Houston’s Therapeutic Equestrian Centers. The donation, along with money raised through a live auction, is given to the charity to further improve the lives of those with disabilities through equestrian therapies.

Tole attended R. L. Turner High School and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in art.

"I started drawing as a small child; in fact, as long as I can remember,” said Tole. “I was always frustrated, because it [drawing] didn’t really look right. When I got about nine years old things began to click.

"I don’t think it’s innate. I think that if a person is interested in something, it leads to a lot of hard work which leads to talent."

By teaching at R. L. Turner for six years, he saw his students experience the same frustration he did when he first started painting.

"In a sense, I’m more or less self-taught. As a child I started drawing first and didn’t start painting until I was about nine or 10 years old," he said. "My first art class was a ceramic class at Brookhaven College at age 17, under the direction of inspiring Donna Adams. The following year I took a drawing class at Brookhaven.

"When I was in college I pretty much ignored what my professors told me to do, but realized after graduation what they were trying to teach me."

Tole photographs an object and paints from the photograph.

"It just depends on the day as to whether or not I feel inspired," he said. "It’s sort of like a brick layer, in that you go over and over again until you become perfect. The inspiration comes in a flash."

It takes Tole about a month to complete an average-size painting; depending on size, the price ranges from $1,800 to $10,500. His style of painting leans from realistic to abstract.

Tole displays his paintings at Conduit Gallery. He'll use the prize money to pay off student loans.

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