Meet Michele
Hello! I'm Michele!
I was raised in the countryside of Ohio farmlands, and spent my youth creating everything from hand-drawn paper dolls to detailed illustrations in Microsoft Paint. I spent most of my teenage years and 20s dismissing my creativity, instead studying photojournalism and working odd jobs.
I moved out west, to Olympia, WA, in 2009 and immediately fell in love with the natural beauty of the mountains, rivers and coastlines of the American West, as well as the outdoor recreation community.
I started working at REI, and did so for over 10 years, which gave me a business mindset, an intimate knowledge with retail, and most importantly, the introduction to my husband and business partner, Jeff.
That job also took me to multiple locations in Washington state, Alaska, and Oregon. After living all over the Pacific Northwest, I deepened my love of the outdoors, and was drawn to bigger and bigger adventures.
However, I did not feel compelled to capture the beauty of the natural world in art until Jeff and I spent a year traveling the world. With the rise of social media, and being exposed to artists of all kinds, I felt inspired to finally paint and draw again. I started posting my small sketches on Instagram, and was encouraged by friends and strangers. I got my first commission while living in New Zealand; it was a request to draw...the Three Sisters mountains!
When we returned State-side, we settled in my husband’s hometown of Bend, Oregon, and I started my art business shortly thereafter. I started designing stickers and got my first retail account in 2018.
My art and business has slowly grown, and I am proud to have my art in many local shops, as well as 7 National Parks (and counting!). Along with my husband, we support our family with our business.
I still live in Bend (but in Three Rivers) with Jeff, our two young children, and our mutt dog. In 2022, I made the leap to pursue art full-time. I feel like the luckiest gal in the world to make art for a living!