Horses have a special place in my heart and I will always paint them. A horse exhibits a life force unlike any other animal. The gaze in a horse’s eye can radiate such grace while its’ movement can display instinct and power. It is euphoric to recreate equine life in a painting that will show these characteristics to others.

I paint because it gives me great joy and often I feel that the painting unfolds from my hand of its own accord. Painting brings me an inner calm. In my paintings, it is my goal to portray the horse’s essence and give attention to the details; for example mane set, tail flow, and eye expression.

I prefer mixing watercolor and pastel because of the intensity watercolors will give combined with the added richness and texture of pastels. My paintings, as I have been told, capture a sense of ‘aliveness’ and reality. Blending watercolor and pastels allows me to bring yet more life to my paintings, because each of these mediums reflects the light differently, and when combined creates a synergistic result.

Michele lives and grew up in the beautiful Northwest. She discovered her love of creating art as a child. She would sit in her horse’s pasture sketching for hours, trying to capture her mare’s essence on paper.

Michele has studied under many acclaimed artists. One of these was American Academy of Women Artists acclaimed Catherine Gill of Ravenna, Washington.

One of the many juried shows that Michele’s art has been accepted into is ‘Equine Art’, hosted by Washington Thoroughbred Breeding Association at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington. She has received two first place and one-second place awards, just since 2000.

Michele’s popular painting, ‘Freedom’, seen here, received the ‘Viewer’s Choice’ award at the North Kitsap Arts Fair at Port Gamble, Washington in 2005.

Her art has been featured at fundraisers for: PONCHO, Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus, Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer, Kitsap Humane Society, and ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition.