Mike Glier
A Grammar of Animacy v.62021, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 22.5"x30"
A Grammar of Animacy v.72021, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 22.5"x30"
A Grammar of Animacy v.22021, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 26"x40.5"
A Grammar of Animacy v.92021, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 26"x40.5"
A Cloud of Gnats before the Killing Frost. v52020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 30"x22.5"
Broad Brook. v82020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 40.5"x26"
A light breeze through the last of the leaves in November. v12020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 30"x22.5"
A light breeze through the last of the leaves in November. v42020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 30"x22.5"
A light breeze through the last of the leaves in November v.72020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 26"x40.5"
What the blackbirds sang as they massed for migration. v92020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 22.5"x30"
What the blackbirds sang as they massed for migration. v42020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 22.5"x30"
What the blackbirds sang as they massed for migration. v122020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 22.5"x30"
What the blackbirds sang as they massed for migration. v.112020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 26"x40.5"
Cascade2020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 22.5"x30"
Under the Waterfall v.22021, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 20"x26"
Thorn and Berry v.62021, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 26"x40.5"
Thorn and Berry v.72021, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 26"x40.5"
Woodpecker Drumming2021, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 20"x26"
A Hunting Song2021, collage with pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 22.5"x30"
Winter Solstice v.22021, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 22.5"x30"
Winter Solstice v.72021, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 26"x40.5"
Winter Solstice v.92021, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 26"x40.5"
The sound of shallow rapids in September v82020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 22.5"x30"
The sound of shallow rapids in September v112020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 26"x40.5"
The sound of shallow rapids in September v182020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 26"x40.5"
The sound of shallow rapids in September v162020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 22.5"x30"
Where the river makes an S2020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 22.5"x30"
at rapids end a slow backwash. V12020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 30"x22.5"
at rapids end a slow backwash. V.32020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 30"x22.5"
The remains of hurricane Laura passed over our house today. V.12020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 30"x22.5"
The remains of Hurricane Laura passed over our house today. V.42020, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 30"x22.5"
Frog Pond v.32021, pencil on Arches Watercolor paper, 22.5"x30"
Agave v.22025, acrylic, paper, pencil, 16"x12"
Agave v.42025, acrylic, paper, pencil, 16"x12"
Agave v.72025, acrylic, paper, pencil, 16"x12"
A Light Breeze through the Last of the Leaves in November V.92023, acrylic on linen, 48"x84"
A Light Breeze Through the Last of the Leaves in November V.82023, acrylic on linen, 45"x72"
Frost Settling2023, acrylic, charcoal on linen, 36"x72"
Mid-January Morning.2023, acrylic on panel, 40"x60"
Ice in Sun2023, acrylic on linen, 48"x84"
Sun on Ice v.22023, acrylic, pencil on linen, 45"x72"
Doe Inhaling Spring2023, acrylic on linen, 36"x72"
A Breeze Becoming Wind2022, acrylic on panel, 36"x48"
In the middle of May, this fragrance came through my window.2022, acrylic paint and charcoal on panel, 48"x36"
On the first of June, this fragrant breeze came through my window.2022, acrylic on panel, 40"x30"
Fox Listening2022, acrylic on panel, 36"x48"
Bears Listening2021, acrylic on panel, 36"x48"
Great Blue Heron Leaving2021, acrylic, charcoal on aluminum panel, 40"x60"
Moose Leaving2021, acrylic, charcoal on panel, 36"x48"
Trees Sharing Information v.52022, acrylic on panel, 40"x60"
Trees Sharing Information v.62022, acrylic, charcoal on panel, 60"x40"
Fawn Exhaling2022, acrylic on canvas, 48"x82"
Bluebirds Flocking as Fall Approaches2022, acrylic, charcoal on canvas, 45"x72"
Bees Finding Pleasure v.42022, acrylic, charcoal on panel, 40"x60"
Bees Finding Pleasure #22023, acrylic, charcoal on panel, 40"x30"
Storms Splitting Water into Light2024, acrylic and charcoal on linen, 48"x84"
The Evensong of Animals v.22023, acrylic on linen, 45"x72"
The Evensong of Animals2023, acrylic on linen, 48"x84"
Very Tiny Things Own the Planet2024, acrylic on paper mounted on panel, 9"x12"
The Ocean Holding Trash v.22024, acrylic on paper, 19.75"x26"
The Ocean Holding Trash2024, acrylic and charcoal on linen, 84"x48"
Broad Brook. v102023, Acrylic and charcoal on linen, 48"x84"
When the Last Monarch Leaves New York This Painting Will Shake and Moan2023, acrylic on panel, 36"x48"
Goldfinch Quarreling2023, Acrylic, charcoal on wooden panel, 30"x40"
On the shortest night this fragrance came through my window.2024, acrylic and charcoal on aluminum panel, 60"x40"; framed 61.5"x41.5"
Breeze in an Aspen Grove.2024, acrylic and charcoal on linen, 72"x45"
Coral Bleaching2024, acrylic on paper mounted on panel. collage, 18"x24"
The Ocean Depositing Trash2023, paper collage acrylic mounted on panel, 12"x12"
The Spider Magnolia Blooms in April2024, acrylic and pencil on paper mounted on panel, barrier coat of acrylic medium, collage, 30"x20"
Bird Songs and the Fragrance of the Garden in June2024, acrylic and pencil on cut paper mounted on panel, barrier coat of acrylic medium, 24"x20"
The Territorial Call of a Red Wing Black Bird Coming out of a Lilac Bush2024, acrylic on paper, charcoal, and mounted on panel. Barrier coat of matte acrylic medium, 30"x20"
The Call of a Seagull Blown off Course into the Mountains2024, acrylic on paper, charcoal, collaged and mounted on panel. Barrier coat of matte acrylic medium, 30"x20"
Early April at Broad Brook2024, acrylic on paper, pencil, collaged and mounted on panel. Barrier coat of matte acrylic medium, 30"x20"
Cascade2024, acrylic on paper, pencil, collaged and mounted on panel. Barrier coat of matte acrylic medium, 30"x20"
White Egret Fishing2024, acrylic on paper, pencil, collaged and mounted on panel. Barrier coat of matte acrylic medium, 20"x30"
Cabbage Butterflies Finding Mates2024, acrylic on paper, pencil, collaged and mounted on panel. Barrier coat of matte acrylic medium, 30"x20"
October Cascade2025, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 60"x40"
Iris Tossing Scent2024, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 40"x30"
A Cormorant Leaving2025, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 40"x30"
April Arriving2024, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 20"x30"
Wild Iris and Cascade2024, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 30"x40"
An Unfamiliar Sound2024, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 30"x20"
Sunshower2024, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 36"x48"
Roses Tossing Scent at the Moon2024, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 40"x30"
The Joy I Felt Walking Along the Rio en Medio Before Its Canyon Burned and Flooded.2024, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 48"x36"
Two clouds passing through one another: HAPPY2024, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 30"x20"
Winter Cascade2024, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 60"x45"
Petal in an Updraft2025, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 30"x20"
Sugar Maple2024, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 36"x48"
Touch2024, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 28"x22"
Startled by me, the rabbit darted under a bush where the barn cat was hiding. Oh, Bunny!2024, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 30"x20"
September Cascade2024, acrylic on cut paper mounted on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 60"x40"
a waterbird wading through her colorful thoughts2025, acrylic on cut paper mounted with Acrylic soft gel on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 36"x48"
Great Blue Heron Hunting2025, acrylic on cut paper mounted with Acrylic soft gel on board, barrier coated and finished with UV reversible varnish, 48"x36"
Dead Tree Singing2025, cut paper, acrylic, charcoal, mounted on panel, golden isolation coat, golden MSA U, 40"x26"., framed 41.5"x27.5"

Answer Music is an extended series of drawings and paintings which record an exchange with the living world. The title, Answer Music, is another term for “call and response”, a form of worship in which the preacher makes a declaration and the congregation responds with fervid unity. To make these works I first take a walk and I find a good place to sit and wait for the call. If I’m near a river, the prompt may be a sound, like the mix of low rumbling and cheerful bubbling made by shallow water as it passes quickly over stones. Or if I’m in the woods, it might be a movement, like the trajectory of a dying leaf as it falls in a series of quick arcs to the ground. Once noted, I respond to this little gift by sketching motifs that seem essential to it. I take these notes back to the studio and assemble them on paper, often in horizontal lines as if they were a musical score. These works are rhythmic and repetitive like time spent watching a river and when I make them, I try to be as constant as the river. As hard as I try to be regular and repetitive, however, I can never sustain it. My arm tires, or my mind wanders and as a result the mark changes; but it’s these little failures which insert change into the process that I find most poignant, since they represent the mutability of life. At moments like this, I often think of John Cage and his passion for chance as the driving force in any creative, dynamic adventure. And as I collect motifs and combine them, I think of Sol Lewitt and his fascination with variables and the potential for beauty to be discovered in their permutations. But I also think about Robin Wall Kimmerer, a botanist, and citizen of the Potawatomi Nation who has written about the grammar of animacy, which is a language that has few nouns to indicate uniqueness, but endless verbs to describe the ceaseless exchange between all things. In the series, “Answer Music”, it’s my hope that through the direct study of nature I can find the abstract motifs and rhythms that depict, not the things, but the dynamic relationship between things and create a grammar of animacy in drawing and painting. 

Artworks