Recently featured in Architectural Digest, Michael Harnish begins his painting process by first making paper collages, utilizing imagery pulled from various sources including botanical books, fashion magazines, and commercial signage in his native Southern California. These collages then become the inspiration for his paintings—sometimes accurate depictions of the original collage, other times improvisation takes the lead once the brush hits the canvas. Flora takes a central role in Harnish’s works, with local cactus and agave played off tropical plants and grocery store orchids—combining a high/low aesthetic in an exhilarating synthesis. Harnish has exhibited widely through out Southern California and in London.