“It is my hope that people who view my work will experience an appreciation for and feeling of connection with the living things with whom we share our world.”
Michelle Meier is a visual artist and high school art teacher who lives on a farmette near Madison, Wisconsin with her husband, two children, and a small herd (or “fold”) of Scottish Highland cattle. She earned a BS in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Masters in Art Education from Boston University. Art has been a lifelong passion, and she enjoys both creating and teaching about it. She considers herself extremely fortunate to live and work where she is surrounded by inspiration, and often takes the reference photos for her pieces in her own backyard. From an early age she has had a deep fascination with the natural world, so it is no wonder that it is the primary focus of her artwork. She creates art that celebrates Nature because it helps her feel closer to it, especially during times where she finds herself stuck indoors more than she would like to be—such as during long, cold Wisconsin winters!
Process
Pieces undergo an extensive creative process prior to completion. They begin with planning sketches to determine the composition that are transferred to the final surface once perfected. Those painted on metal are then cut out with a jeweler’s saw before being carefully filed and sanded, and the remnants of metal are saved for making jewelry. Patinas are sometimes created on the metal using a variety of oxidation materials (such as vinegar, salt, heat, and sulphur produced by hard boiled eggs). Oil paintings are painted solvent-free with professional grade M.Graham oil paints. A protective varnish is applied to the surface after paintings have had time to dry completely.
