Studio Petringa, Braintree

Only a handful of years after graduating from art school, Michael Petringa was living an advertiser’s dream, acting as the head of the art department for a major corporation. However, Michael knew his true passion was painting. So, he gave up his job, sold his belongings, and set off for Italy. This courageous leap turned into a 15-year pilgrimage across Europe, where Michael learned and taught in art-rich locales in Florence, Munich, and England. As he traveled, he branched out from realism into styles such as abstraction, expressionism, and fingerpainting.

With his journey complete, Michael returned to the US and set up his own studio. In the ensuing 14 years, he’s shared his worldly knowledge with visiting students, all the while honing his craft in various mediums.