ARTIST STATEMENT

I paint mostly outdoors wherever inspiration strikes—from the shores of Monterey to the valleys of Yosemite, the cliffs of Kauai, or in a hidden European village with my husband, John. Pastels and watercolors are my medium of choice for capturing nature’s light and immediacy. Though I sometimes transpose plein-air studies into larger oil works, it’s the fresh spontaneity of the original scenes that holds the magic. These pieces are an invitation to breathe in the world’s color and light.


ABOUT THE ARTIST

Michelle is an award-winning artist and interior designer whose creative path has spanned continents and disciplines. Trained in watercolor and oil, she now gravitates toward oil pastels for their agility in capturing fleeting shifts of light—an echo of her plein-air influences from California Impressionists like Ted Goerschner and Tim Solliday.

With a BFA from University of Southern California and additional studies at Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, Michelle’s work bridges artistic precision and emotional resonance. She paints from her home studio in Monterey—affectionately called “The Love Shack”—where she finds refuge and renewal as a cancer survivor.

Michelle is a member of Oil Painters of America and a patron of the California Art Club. Her work has been juried into exhibits including Yosemite Renaissance XVII and Close to My Heart at Pacific Grove Art Center.