Burpoe has been a lifelong artist. There are photos of him behind the easel at just 3 years old. He studied graphic design at the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences in the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2017.

Despite an extensive background in art, watercolor was a new medium for him, but it was something he quickly embraced. Five years since he embarked, his watercolor exhibit has grown to 30 original pieces, comprising about 40 watercolor paintings, and is on display at the Tupper Arts Center through May 26.

The exhibit is named “Terroir — A Sense of Place In Watercolor” and features some of the most iconic scenes throughout the Tri-Lakes region and the greater Adirondacks as seen through Burpoe’s perspective using watercolor.

Pronounced ter-WAHR, the French word is typically used to describe how a location’s environment — be it the climate, soil composition, topography or weather conditions in a particular season — influences wine taste and indeed is characteristic of the wine itself.

“Terroir” is often used by sommeliers to describe how a region’s environment influences the taste of wine. Saranac Lake-based artist Michael Burpoe chose that title for his exhibit as his work as an artist is a reflection of his environment.(Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

“It specifically describes how wine is used. It can become a product of its own environment,” Burpoe said. “If you have a wine from Italy versus a wine from California, a lot of times you can almost taste that.”

Burpoe chose that for his exhibit’s title as a nod to how he, and his work, have been influenced by and are a product of his environment. He said his sense of place is centered around Saranac Lake but owes much of its influence to the surrounding communities and landscape throughout the Adirondacks and beyond — he spent time abroad in Amsterdam, Japan and Argentina. He signs his work with ‘Czerny,’ which is his middle name and the original spelling of his grandfather’s name, which was changed when he immigrated to the U.S. from Poland.

“I sort of see that as a representation of my art,” he said. “I’m a product of my own environment. I’m hoping that people can see that through my art.”

Collection pieces include watercolor renderings of a number of Saranac Lake Winter Carnival longstanding groups, such as the Lawn Chair Ladies and Ice Palace Workers (IPW-101). Others are renderings of popular Adirondack fire towers, such as those atop Bald, Blue and Hadley mountains.

After the exhibit ends, Burpoe said some of the collection will remain on display in Saranac Lake at the Adirondack Artists Guild.

A set of watercolor prints titled “Adirondack Lifestyle 2021 Greeting card Set” by Saranac Lake-based artist Michael Burpoe is seen at Tupper Arts on May 7. That was the opening night of “Terroir — A Sense of Place In Watercolor.” The exhibit features about 40 watercolor paintings that showcase the Tri-Lakes and greater Adirondacks region through watercolor. The exhibit runs through May 26 at Tupper Arts.(Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

It’s been about a year and a half since Burpoe’s last show at the Adirondack Artists Guild — which he has subsequently become a member artist of. As he continued to immerse himself in watercolor painting, his style evolved with the passage of time. Burpoe said his current exhibit is a timestamp, of sorts.

“I just wanted to showcase where I’m at with my art,” he said. “It allows me to put down a milestone marker of where I’m at and put down a milestone marker for ‘Here’s what my art looks like as of May 2025.’ … But give me a year-and-a-half more, and it’ll probably be very different.”

Terroir opened at Tupper Arts on May 7 with a reception that saw a gallery room bustling throughout the evening with friends from all walks of Burpoe’s life.

“What I’m trying to represent as a younger person is that I can bring all of these worlds together,” he said. “And that’s been awesome.”

Burpoe credited his parents, Sue Cherny and Tim Burpoe, for encouraging his interest in art and design, while at the same time, letting him fall into it on his own.

A crowd is seen in the Tupper Arts Center for the opening night of “Terroir — A Sense of Place In Watercolor” by Saranac Lake-based artist Michael Burpoe. The exhibit features about 40 watercolor paintings that showcase the Tri-Lakes and greater Adirondacks region through watercolor. The exhibit runs through May 26 at Tupper Arts. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

“My parents have always done a great job nurturing that in me, and not pushing me into it,” he said.

Burpoe’s mother worked as a teacher at the Tupper Lake Central School District for 35 years, and Burpoe was pleased to see so many of her colleagues and community members come by for opening night.

“She taught pretty much an entire generation, or two, of kids throughout Tupper Lake,” he said. “So there are a lot of teachers from Tupper Lake here, but also a lot of people from Saranac Lake as well. A lot of my friends, a lot of members from the Guild — just a lot of people from all walks of my life.”

Tupper Arts is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit tupperarts.org.