Michael Strauss is a watercolor painter in South Burlington, Vermont.   He teaches chemistry, general science, educational pedagogy and drawing classes at the University of Vermont, and has published over 80 articles and 4 books.  Many of these are on educational topics related to pattern, form, symbolism and artistic expression.   He conducts workshops in writing, teaching and educational pedagogy in the United States and Canada, and has given presentations on scientific and artistic subjects in Europe, Asia, Russia and the Middle East.  He now paints full time at home in his studio.   Recent exhibitions of his work have appeared in a number of Vermont galleries and other public venues (banks, restaurants and bookstores.)
   
    Strauss is particularly interested in representing the mood and atmosphere of sky, land and light in winter landscapes.   Mainly self taught, he has taken workshops from well known painters around the country.  Ronald Swanwick in England, Eli Schwartz and Ottavio Gandolfi in Israel, and Cynthia Debenedetti in California have had the greatest impact on his artistic life.
   
    The first drawings Strauss ever made as a youngster were of his collections of crystals, insects and shells.  He continues to draw and paint the things he collects - the images in his journal, sketch book and in the 80 megabyte memory card of his digital camera.  He considers drawing and painting a form of visual reasoning, and a powerful and provocative way of learning about the world.