My story
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Artist Statement:
Michelle Angelique is a portrait/figurative artist based in Sydney, Australia. Previously studying bachelor degrees in Psychology and Music, she holds a Diploma in Interactive Digital Media (Concept Art) from Design Centre Enmore. Currently, she creates art full-time with personal work, commissions and live wedding painting. Michelle's work walks the line between real and fantastical through her use of mixed media techniques to create an ethereal aesthetic that is still grounded in reality. Each piece is carefully crafted to achieve a colourful, romantic and whimsical world on canvas or wood. Her emotional portraits are often set in nature and reflect the inner workings of how she deals with important moments in her life, encouraging quiet contemplation in her viewers. Never one to be complacent, she is always experimenting and discovering ways to share her story such that others may connect with it. |
Education:
Following high school, I studied Psychology at Macquarie University while pursuing various creative outlets on the side such as fashion design, digital art and music. Unhappy with where I was, I left to study vocal performance at the Australian Institute of Music and Visual Merchandising at TAFE. It was my drawing teacher at the latter who saw my fantastical designs and encouraged me to study Concept Art at Enmore Design Centre, where I studied the year after. I fell in love with the traditional drawing and painting lessons there and made the switch from a digital painter to a traditional painter, teaching myself to use acrylic and oil paint while applying the design principles and painting techniques I learned from digital painting.
Starting the business:
My artistic career began in 2015 with friends commissioning portraits for their loved ones and selling prints of my digital paintings on art websites. It wasn't long before I started my website and began doing more commissions and selling traditional paintings and prints. In mid-2017, after getting sick too often and developing tendonitis in my right wrist, I quit my full-time day job to build my business and work on my craft full-time. I am involved in every aspect of my art - buying materials, priming panels, painting and varnishing, building canvases and frames, photographing, printing, packing and sending. I believe in quality work, and putting 100% into every piece I create, whether it's an original, a commission, a print or a frame!
Since starting my business, I've received emails from my collectors explaining why they chose that particular piece. They've shared their stories and the meanings they drew from the painting. It's such an incredible feeling to pour every emotion into my paintings and to have someone else connect with it and draw their own meaning from it - and then have it hanging in their own home.
If my art can speak to a complete stranger - move them, inspire them - then I've done my job.
I currently have several paintings in private collections across the UK, USA and Australia.
I currently work in Sydney.
I’ve also welcomed a baby boy in 2024, who now serves as my muse.
Following high school, I studied Psychology at Macquarie University while pursuing various creative outlets on the side such as fashion design, digital art and music. Unhappy with where I was, I left to study vocal performance at the Australian Institute of Music and Visual Merchandising at TAFE. It was my drawing teacher at the latter who saw my fantastical designs and encouraged me to study Concept Art at Enmore Design Centre, where I studied the year after. I fell in love with the traditional drawing and painting lessons there and made the switch from a digital painter to a traditional painter, teaching myself to use acrylic and oil paint while applying the design principles and painting techniques I learned from digital painting.
Starting the business:
My artistic career began in 2015 with friends commissioning portraits for their loved ones and selling prints of my digital paintings on art websites. It wasn't long before I started my website and began doing more commissions and selling traditional paintings and prints. In mid-2017, after getting sick too often and developing tendonitis in my right wrist, I quit my full-time day job to build my business and work on my craft full-time. I am involved in every aspect of my art - buying materials, priming panels, painting and varnishing, building canvases and frames, photographing, printing, packing and sending. I believe in quality work, and putting 100% into every piece I create, whether it's an original, a commission, a print or a frame!
Since starting my business, I've received emails from my collectors explaining why they chose that particular piece. They've shared their stories and the meanings they drew from the painting. It's such an incredible feeling to pour every emotion into my paintings and to have someone else connect with it and draw their own meaning from it - and then have it hanging in their own home.
If my art can speak to a complete stranger - move them, inspire them - then I've done my job.
I currently have several paintings in private collections across the UK, USA and Australia.
I currently work in Sydney.
I’ve also welcomed a baby boy in 2024, who now serves as my muse.
Exhibitions:
2025: Lifeline H2H Art Show North Sydney - Finalist (‘I would like fries with that’ and ‘Overthinking’)
2023: Novella on the Park bridal expo, Camden Valley Inn bridal expo
2022: Epping Arts Fair - Major Art Prize Winner for 'Red Flags'
2019: Ravenswood Foundation Gala Ball - "Through Sydney Harbour Bridge in Black and White" - specially selected and featured artwork for sale
2018: Epping Arts Fair - Finalist
2017: Light, Space and Time - SeaScapes Art Exhibition. Awarded Special Merit for "Here I Dreamt"
2016: Light, Space and Time - SeaScapes Art Exhibition. Awarded Special Recognition for "Incoming"
Artist recognition:
2024: SBS interview article and podcast
2022: Lucy and Tom's engagement painting featured in Brisbane Weddings Magazine Spring 2022 edition; Featured artist on Saatchi Art for 'The Lone Pine'
2019-2021: Featured artist on Bluethumb for "Maybe one day...", "Kiligs", "There is still beauty to be found in this world", "In my element", "Bird of Paradise", "Cruising along the Seacliff Bridge"
2018: Featured artist on Saatchi Art for "Wrecked"
2025: Lifeline H2H Art Show North Sydney - Finalist (‘I would like fries with that’ and ‘Overthinking’)
2023: Novella on the Park bridal expo, Camden Valley Inn bridal expo
2022: Epping Arts Fair - Major Art Prize Winner for 'Red Flags'
2019: Ravenswood Foundation Gala Ball - "Through Sydney Harbour Bridge in Black and White" - specially selected and featured artwork for sale
2018: Epping Arts Fair - Finalist
2017: Light, Space and Time - SeaScapes Art Exhibition. Awarded Special Merit for "Here I Dreamt"
2016: Light, Space and Time - SeaScapes Art Exhibition. Awarded Special Recognition for "Incoming"
Artist recognition:
2024: SBS interview article and podcast
2022: Lucy and Tom's engagement painting featured in Brisbane Weddings Magazine Spring 2022 edition; Featured artist on Saatchi Art for 'The Lone Pine'
2019-2021: Featured artist on Bluethumb for "Maybe one day...", "Kiligs", "There is still beauty to be found in this world", "In my element", "Bird of Paradise", "Cruising along the Seacliff Bridge"
2018: Featured artist on Saatchi Art for "Wrecked"