The value in Michael's work lies not only in it's artistic merit, but in the exacting standards for accuracy and authenticity that go into each piece of art. There are no individuals or groups who oversee authenticity in historic paintings and give them a stamp of approval. These standards are self-imposed. A client must rely on his or her own knowledge of a particular subject, or rely on the knowledge and attention to detail an artist brings to his work.

The inherent value in a piece of art depicting an historic event lies not only in a pleasing visual, but most importantly, a vision of what it actually looked and felt like if one had been an observer on the scene. This commitment to accuracy can only be accomplished in one way: through researching a topic thoroughly. Michael often invests weeks or months of time in preparation for an individual painting. Because of this immense research time, a particular scene may take years to go from the initial concept to the finished painting. The work involves studying actual artifacts from a site or time period whenever available; primary source material such as journals, diaries or military records and period literature can set a scene in a larger context. Studying paintings and drawings from periods prior to photography help develop a sense of the styles and mannerisms that are important to give a painting its feel of "being there".

An extensive and widely flung network of historians with whom Michael has had the pleasure of developing relationships bring their particular knowledge to a project whenever necessary. Michael also frequently travels to the site of the original event that's being portrayed to get a feel for the surroundings, the types of vegetation or building construction and the sense of light and mood. An artist portraying an historic scene is only as good as the information he, and those around him, can bring to be filtered and assembled into the finished product.

Michael's paintings are the sum of all these many parts. They come together in artwork that is not only beautiful to behold, but art that speaks to people today with a voice confident in its knowledge of the past.