art festival

I just wanted to thank so many of you for coming out this weekend! The art show was fabulous this year, blazing hot as usual, but still so good. I grew up in Lincoln and got to see many people from my past including a handful of long-legged girls I used to babysit when their voices were squeaky and their legs were much shorter. :) Now they've all grown up and are just so precious. I always feel an overwhelming sense of support from this little community, and I want you to know how much I truly appreciate it!

*Last two photos taken by the very funny and always entertaining Michael Gowin of me with fellow artist Kerry Rolewicz and my little sister who helped me during the show.

summer show

If you happen to be in or near Lincoln, IL this weekend, stop by booth 16 to see me and browse my most recent paintings and prints! Official fair hours are Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 10-4.  I've been busy framing and packaging and painting all week and have so many new things to share. I'd love to visit with you!

*Follow me on Instagram for more photos like these and stay up to date.

Sibling Portraits

Custom Child Portrait 11x14"

I hardly know where to begin with this portrait. These three kiddos are so full of personality with their kittens and chickens and cute little outfits that it made my job pretty easy. I just love it when kids and their pets are painted together. It's my first sibling portrait actually, and since I enjoyed it so much I've now made custom sibling portraits available in my shop! I do hope to paint more of these soon.

Other than painting and cleaning which seems to be the bulk of my day to day tasks, I've been catching my breath from the SCBWI conference I attended this past weekend. It was truly amazing. If you've ever been curious about writing or illustrating children's books, visit back here in the next few weeks as I'll be sharing some of the best and most current information about the industry. I learned so much and was overflowing with excitement that I had to rest most of the day yesterday just to regain my strength and composure!

I can't wait to share more, but for now I wanted to just drop in and say hi and show you something new.

Praire Creek Farm Paintings: Part 1

Remember the Prairie Creek Farm I visited and photographed last Summer?  Well, here's a sneak peak of one of the three paintings I'm doing for the "master gardener" owner.  I'm using dozens of photos from all over the family farm as references and putting all the best aspects of each together in three individual paintings.  Once completed, the paintings will hang side by side in the entryway of the family's big old farm house.  This particular vignette includes an adorable red gardening shed, chocolate lab, chickens, sunflowers, a bird bath, and a goat!  I am falling head over heels in love with this project!  I do hope to work with more gardeners and farmers on custom work in the near future.  Wouldn't that be a dream? 

a Christmas surprise

Pumpkin Cookies Recipe Illustration
8x10 Print

I have a new and special surprise for you today that I'm really excited to share!  Katherine Ross over at the Gathered Heart is doing a "12 Days of Christmas Cookies" holiday special on her blog and has invited me to contribute.  I loved working on this project and want to invite you to jump on over to her beautiful blog to read more.

One more week 'til Christmas...

New Prints & Show Announcement

Reia's 3 Sheep Print

3 Sheep Print Set

Zebra Swallowtail Print

3 Butterflies Print Set

It's nearly December and that means more prints and print sets have migrated to my shop all those in search of the perfect Christmas gift.  Is there even such a thing as a perfect Christmas gift?  That's always a struggle for me every year- to find that special something for each person on my list.  It's so easy to find things that match my own taste...but what about parent's taste?  my in-law's?  my sister's?  Is it as challenging for you as it is for me?

Well, December 1 marks my last and final show of the year.  Can you believe it?  It'll be a nice small gathering in a building just blocks from home.  I'm partnering with two other artists- one a stained glass maker and the second, a jeweler- for this one time event this Saturday from 10-4pm.  In case you happen to live nearby, the address is 108 West Springtown Road in Minier, IL.  And in case you don't live nearby, no worries!  My shop will remain open for browsing and buying all weekend.  I do hope you find something special for everyone on your list this Christmas.

The Visitor

How was your weekend friend?  Is it getting cold where you live?  My closet is slowly filling up with sweaters and leggings and mittens.  I do love this time of year!

I have been making plenty of plans for new winter paintings, but while those sketches are brewing it's been nice to work on something familiar in between all the custom work.  Butterflies!  My mother-in-law saw this gorgeous swallowtail in her yard this past summer and was quick enough to photograph it in time to capture its wings both clasped shut and wide open.  The underside of the hind wings are a gorgeous blue and orange and black and white pattern.  I had the pictures propped up against my easel, beckoning me, for the longest time.  Suddenly last week I just picked up a canvas and started painting!  So far I am loving the dark and light contrast and repetitive pattern.  I think I'll call it The Visitor.  This is the first layer.

Just thought I'd share!  Hope your week is off and running.

Gallery Preview

The Singer Swan
oil & fabric on canvas, 4'x5'  $3000

Loon Song
oil & fabric on canvas, 4'x5'  $3000

Henrietta
oil on canvas, 18x24"  $600

Tag & the 88
oil on canvas, 22x28"  $750

Under Her Watchful Eye
oil on canvas, 18x24"  $600

Sewing a Luna
oil on canvas, 16x20"  $525

Tea Time
oil on canvas, 16x20"  $525

 These new oil paintings (along with all the watercolor work in my Etsy shop) will be featured this month at the David Strawn Art Gallery in Jacksonville, IL.  You are all invited to attend the opening reception tomorrow evening October 6th from 6-8pm with my gallery talk at 6:30pm.  Normal gallery hours (for those unable to attend the opening) are listed here.

Next week I'll feature each piece individually on the blog with detail shots and descriptions.  If available they'll all be listed for sale in the shop at that time, but if you'd like to reserve a specific piece now, please email me at Michelle@TheArtofMichelle.com or Kelly Gross (the gallery director) at strawnartgallery@frontier.com.

Happy Friday to you!  I'm so happy to finally have a day off!  :)

painting swans

It's gone a little something like this the past few weeks...

7:30 a.m.- stumble out of bed, literally running into things on my way to the bathroom
8:00 a.m.- chug coffee or hot tea with caffeine to wake up, say a little something to Seth (if he's still home) who always seems WAY too happy in the morning. pretend to laugh at his jokes.
8:30 a.m. - wake up a second time out of the trance of reading the Bible or writing in my journal or scribbling a note to not forget to buy new candles next time I'm at the store
9:00 a.m. - do the dishes, take out the trash, sweep the floors, switch the laundry
10:00 a.m. - answer emails, start painting swans and trees and houses and portraits, momentarily freak out at the long list of things to do, say a little prayer of thankfulness for having so many things to do
1:00 p.m.- lunch and maybe an afternoon walk, then back to work
5:00 p.m. - is it seriously dinner time?  I just ate 10 minutes ago. this clock must be wrong.
9:00 p.m. - talk on the phone to Seth, who is now at least 100 miles away.  say a prayer asking God to keep him safe and bring him back home to me soon
1:00 a.m. - is it really one o'clock in the morning?  geez, where does the time go?  Seth is going to shake his head at me when he finds out I'd up late again to paint.
2:00 a.m. - maybe I should stop.  The swans won't mind if I stop, will they?  Oh no.  I'm talking to the swans.  time for bed
2:15 a.m. - shower and fall into bed, completely exhausted and satisfied

Ok, it's not always like that- just lately because of all these deadlines.  Sometimes I get to take long walks and coffee breaks and sit-on-the-couch-and-read breaks.  Sometimes I stop painting at 5:00 and make a nice dinner.  Sometimes I sit on the porch for long hours and stare at the birds and squirrels in my front yard and day dream about planting another tree so we can attract more birds and squirrels.

All that to say that work is work- no matter how much I love to paint (and I do), it's still a lot of work.  It's happy work, to be certain, and I wouldn't trade it for any other job.  But it seems that the more you love something, the harder and longer you work at it to make it perfect, you know?  It's completely exhausting and wonderful in the same moment.

The swan painting (above) is a little "teaser" of my larger body of oil paintings to be announced in just a few weeks.  Most of the watercolor work you've already seen, but the oil paintings will be a surprise!  I'm so looking forward to my October show at the gallery and to sharing these new works with you right here, on my blog.  Until then, happy working to you, my friend!

Ulia

Ulia, 8x10"
Watercolor on paper, mounted

Remember my pet portrait competition when I had all of you send me your favorite cat and dog pictures?  Well, this painting is the first of two that I'm giving to the winners, Katherine and Kelly.

Meet Katherine's adorable feline, Ulia.  Isn't she a doll?  I absolutely loved painting her and am so excited to now be offering custom cat portraits in my shop.  Hopefully, I'll have many more cats to paint!  Thanks again for entering the competition Katherine!  Ulia will be on her way to you today!

Kelly, your dog painting is next up...

Custom Portrait: mother & child

Wednesday's post was all about Bea and her father, and today's post is just as exciting as I was blessed with the opportunity to also paint Bea going for a walk through the woods with her mother.

One of my favorite things about this portrait series was hearing Lizelle (Bea's mother) talk about her daughter in such endearing terms.  She told me about how much Bea loves nature and going for walks through the woods to pick wild flowers and watch for wild animals.  She said she wanted these paintings to be a momento for Bea, something she and her family could see and be reminded of the wonderful times they had together while Bea was young.

Bea and Her Mother 8x10" Watercolor on paper

In the hope of doing more paintings similar to these last two, I've made a second custom portrait listing in my Etsy shop that you can see here.  Each portrait is an 8x10" watercolor (mixed media) painting by me that you can have for your lovely home to bring back fond memories for years to come.

One final thing I wanted to share were a few kind words from Lizelle:

"First, I have to say how pleasantly surprised my husband was. He LOVED it! He could tell immediately what it was all about and I think it's been one of the best gifts ever!"

''Bea loves them too and I'm sure it will become a treasured little heirloom. We want to thank you once again for a wonderful 'journey', I've greatly enjoyed working with you and look forward to following your blog. Good luck with all future endeavours and keep on dreaming!"

*   *   *

Remember to plan ahead if you are interested in purchasing a custom portrait for a special occasion.  Mother's Day is May 13th and Father's Day is June 17th- book your portraits now to guarantee your holiday gifts!  And if you happen to have any other ideas for portraits you may be interested in, send me an email or post a comment below because I'd love to hear from you!

{A special thanks to Lizelle for allowing me to share!}