Michelle’s work has a striking appearance that draws you in, with dramatic texture and bold color. Her methodology is consistent through texture on the canvas using tissue paper. Many of Michelle’s paintings are three dimensional using the tissue paper in a sculpted display on canvas. Most of her art is inspired by the western lifestyle. Creating works that connect us to the magnificence of the west, the relationship we have to the land, and the independence of this wondrous way of life.

Michelle’s texture is a process of wrinkling, compressing and gluing tissue paper to form an object, a person or create a unique background on canvas. The texture not only adds dimension to the painting, but generates a movement within the painting itself, as if giving it a pulse.
Michelle graduated from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Denver, Colorado in 1980. She studied outdoor advertising, sign art, billboard art, layout and lettering. Then, she went on to become a billboard artist and sign painter.

As the sign industry evolved, and computerized vinyl lettering transformed the sign business, Michelle went on to explore other options. She started Creative Gift Baskets in Boise and developed three eCommerce sites which sold Idaho products and Idaho themed gift baskets. After nine years in business, she sold her company and felt driven to reconnect with art and began painting with oils. During her four and a half years of painting on canvas, she developed an exclusive style that truly speaks to her soul.

Michelle was not aware of her talent at first, but when she painted a portrait for the first time, she knew this was her new calling and was urged to continue. At first, Michelle’s paintings were traditional and realistic before she had a clear vision of this unique style that she uses today. It is essential to view this extreme textural art in person to see the depth and detail of the artwork.