Story of a Queensland Artist
Michelle has been creating beautiful pieces for many years, with her love of art beginning as a child. Her artist journey has included charcoal, pastels, photography and now acrylics. Breaking many of the traditional moulds of artists, she prefers to continue to experiment with styles, often favouring rich colours. Her many years experience as a Mental Health Professional, has seen her use art as a means of de-compressing as well as sharing the therapy that art brings.
The influence of my father and his love of photography influences my work, both artworks and photography. His creative perspective in “shooting” inspired me very early to explore the artistic nature of photography. I discovered a natural creative talent in primary school and took every opportunity to learn any technical aspect within the realm of “art”. This included undertaking Architectural Drawing in secondary school, as well as formal Art throughout senior schooling years. As a young girl, I won an art competition and my award was an Art book on European artists. I remember this book inspired my commitment to travel, after seeing Le Louvre Art Museum in Paris.
After moving to the West in the early 1990’s, I took private art classes and attended Rural Art Schools. During this time, I entertained my love of pastels, charcoal, pencil and Acrylics.
The idea of art as therapy also interests me. As a graduate of the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Psychology, and my work in Psychosocial Recovery and Rehabilitation, I have come to understand more of human nature and it’s frailty. This has expanded my worldview of cultural differences and enriched what guided my brush hand. I find myself looking for regularities and patterns, consistencies and colour amongst ordinary objects especially our topographical landscape, so that I might also find the “constant”, the “reliable” and the “predictable” in life – a sense of security and safety.
I have found art, be it painting, photography, or drawing personally therapeutic, and promote art as useful to recovery and maintenance of healthy mental well being. My artist mission is to offer pieces designed fill your home with bright, colourful and ambitious abstract art pieces which create a vibrant positive atmosphere.