Artist Statement

Michelle works mostly with printmaking and collage as she loves the fast flowing creative process accessible through these media. Michelle was looking for a way to process the September 11 tragedy through her artwork and has completed a contemporary United States Flag Series since the attacks. The flags are the result of her thoughts and feelings of the New York and Washington attacks. Michelle says about her work,

“My thoughts were with the families and the many stories I had seen on the news after September 11. That another human being would consciously cause such destruction is unfathomable. Heartbreak, Hope and Patriotism were all part of the emotions I was feeling as I was painting the flags. Many of us who took our freedoms for granted found ourselves with new fierce patriotism. The flags became my outlet for the intensity I was feeling. The pieces reflect the conflicting emotions of Patriotism, Anger, Pride, Confusion, Hope and Fear.”

Michelle also loves to guide others in discovering their creativity believing everyone has access to a creative spirit inside. She understands how conscious awareness of ones own creative process is paramount for success in all areas of life, and she leads creativity workshops for those who believe they have little or no artist talent. She says “Often people will tell me they aren’t creative, or they may say, ‘I don’t have an artistic bone in my body’, but in my experience, everyone I have worked with has opened up and found a new way to explore their own creative talents. Everyone can access a creative spirit inside them. Finding out how to express your creative spirit, now that is interesting to me.” Michelle welcomes comments and questions about her art and creative process.