Flora Bowley - Bloom True Course

Wow!  So it has been a long time again!  I keep so busy these days that I forget to update you all on the comings and goings.....Let's See....Where to begin?

Well, I completed the Flora Bowley Bloom True course and loved every single minute of it!  If you all haven't taken this course...it is a must!  She really helped me loosen up and pay attention to my inner artist's soul.  Here is one of the paintings called "Women of God"

I have no idea where these women came from...but one afternoon they showed up and I couldn't stop painting!  Here is a short blurb about this painting;

 It was such a spiritual experience and I found myself getting lost in the painting for days.  In the end, I had created something so unlike my other work that the beauty of  it brought tears to my eyes. 

My mother came to visit about a month later and as soon as she saw the painting, she was frozen.  It touched something in her that she could not explain. My mother has been through so much with me (to share would take up a whole page).  But let's just say that the past eight years have been a blessing for us both.  This painting now hangs in my mother and father's home.  She called the other day to tell me how beautiful it was and how she was blessed to have a daughter like me.  WOW! (tears again)  I can't believe that after so much that my mom is actually proud of me now.  She is such a beautiful woman....I hope one day I will become half of the woman that my mother is.

After painting the women, my heart was turned to my fantasy place to live.  As the music played in my studio, I began to get lost in the painting...and in Kauai.  I could see my little house by the stream and myself working in my little studio as the breeze blew.  My garden was filled with strange but colorful plants and flowers.  A piece overcame me and one again...I was lost.

Any of you who paint know what I mean when I say lost :)

Here is my Kauai, which is now in a new bank in town. The girl who came to pick it out, Beth, fell in love with the place too.  So each day as the tellers and staff take their break and rest in their beautiful lounge (looks like a hotel lounge! lol)  they will be whisked away to Kauai.  It was hard to let this one go.

So there you have it!  A little recap of the Flora Bowley, Bloom True experience

If you want to take one of her courses....go to:

http://www.florasbowley.com/

Enjoy!

M

Website coming soon!

Hey all,

  I am in the process of creating a website.  So for now the blog will be at "Micheleleeart.blogspot.com"

The new website will be at "Micheleleeart.com"

Thanks for your patience on this...it is a huge undertaking and might take me a while :) You know I am NOT a left brainer! LOL

Enjoy,

M

I can't explain it in words.....

"I can't explain it in words, for God and the Universe have given me color to tell my story

 in this journey of life."

 M.Lee

These past 4 weeks have been filled with so much joy and learning that the only way I can express them is to show you. The Flora Bowley workshop I have been taking with a few beautiful women, has changed something in my soul.  I feel as if something has cracked open in me and let go of colors and love like I could never imagine.  Even the simplest of things like talking to my husband, watching a movie with my daughter, sharing texts with my son or picking up my child from track has turned into a smorgasbord of color, texture and joy!. Here are a few photos of where my heart and soul have been......enjoy!

Colors colors colors!

I am in the process of a 5 week workshop with  Flora Bowley and having an amazing time!  I am taking the workshop with three other artists and we are exploring a world of color that can only be described as ....intuitive leaping!

It is something that I have not done in a long time.  Just being able to intuitively express myself with color and marks.  Now this is only after week two of the workshop.  Believe me these paintings will transform over the next few weeks through mediation, yoga, painting and listening to myself and the word around me.  But I wanted to give you all a brief glimpse of where we are now :)

I even had some young blooming artists stop by the gallery the other day and leave a little of themselves on the canvases.  It is so nice to see how people react to the color and marks, even though to me they are looking a little wild. LOL

Here are me, Angela, Paula and Robin with our week 2 display of colors, colors and more colors!

Enjoy!

 

WOW! 3 Months have gone by....

Wow!  I can't believe it has been 3 months since my last post!  Where does the time go when you are having fun? Here are a few pics of what's been going on lately...

I have created a painted fire hydrant for this year's Dog Ball.  The ball will be held this Friday night and proceeds will go to the Huntsville Humane Society. http://www.thedogball.org/

Go to their website and see all the hydrants that are up for auction.  There are some pretty creative artists this year!

I have been busy working 2 days a week out at Nina's Place creating some beautiful and fun furniture pieces. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/ninasplaceal?sk=wall

We also taught a class together at the Huntsville Botanical Garden's on weathered furniture finishing.

We will be teaching more of these classes in the upcoming months...so stay tuned ;)

    The gardens have loads of classes.  Here is their site: http://www.hsvbg.org/

I have been having so much fun teaching classes at the gallery. http://www.16maingallery.com/

Here is a shot of my last class ...they did GREAT!

Took off to the beach with my good friends Angela True http://angelatrue.com

and Doris Sisk http://www.dorissisk.com/

Thank you Doris for letting us stay at your amazing condo!

We went for a week long workshop with artist Joan Blackburn!

Here is Joan in her favorite apron doing a demo at the workshop.

http://www.joanblackburn.com/

She is an amazing abstract artist.  We learned so much, that I think my brain might just explode. There were artists from all over and painting with them for the week was truely a spiritual experience.

Had to go do a little touch up on this beautiful vanity that we made a while back.  Seems that owner and screwdriver does not mix well. LOL  She is one of my favorite clients!  I love doing stuff for her, just so we can chat for a while.  Thanks for calling K.

Whew!  If that's not enough, I am now painting a huge outdoor butterfly for the Botanical Gardens. They will be positioned throughout and then auctioned off to raise money for the gardens.

I am also taking a 5 weel worshop with a few of my friends and artist, Flora Bowly http://www.florasbowley.com/

AMAZING!!!  She will be teaching us to find our inner artist.  It is a well rounded spiritual worksshop.

Of course there is still classes and work and kids and dogs and art and love and travel.....but isn't that what life is all about?  LOL

Gotta run for now...hope to be back sooner than later ;)

Enjoy!

Here's what I've been up to lately...

So, here is what I have been up to lately.....I have been working at the gallery and have now taken a part time job at Nina's Place.  It is a nice fit for my creative woodworking side :)  I am getting to play in the world of finishes half the week and the world of painting the other half!  What more could a girl want? LOL 
This week I got to create some fun dog beds out of leftover scraps and vintage suitcases.  So I thought I would share a few photos with you.
Enjoy!
M

Girl Traveling Bed

Cali Bed 

                                                             French Country Bed

Boy Traveling Bed

Christmas Pet Portraits & Commissions

Christmas Pet Portraits & Commissions  

   If you would like your pet portrait or commission done for Christmas...PLEASE order now! I am filling up quickly with Christmas Commissions and will need to get everyone's orders in.

  Here's a sample of one client'spet portrait...meet "Andy"

"Andy"

    (sorry, I took the photo with my camera phone)
Cost:  11x14 wrapped or unwrapped canvas
 $150 (1pet)
$275 (2pet)
$400 (3pet)

"Maddie"

Girl's Night Out! Oct 14th 6pm

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  I have been so busy that I forgot to keep the blog up to date!

Here is the next class at the gallery on Oct 14th at 6pm.  Hope to see some of you there.

Enjoy!

M

The Painted Bra Project

Here is my entry for the "Painted Bra Project".  The project, started by artist Anna Braden, is to raise awareness for breast cancer.

Here is the link to see the project and all of the entries:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/The-Painted-Bra-Art-Project/265252810167734?closeTheater=1

Aug 27th Class at 16 Main Gallery!

Aug 5 - "Tuscany" Girl's Night Wine and Paint

Aug 27 - Large Beach Painting Class

Girl's Night Out! July 29 - 6pm

Goodbye Key West

Sold

I have to say goodbye.  This painting has been with me for a while.  It was done from a photograph that my husband took on a trip to Key West.  Everytime I saw it hanging in the gallery it reminded me of that time together.

I was happy to see it go to someone who loved it as much as I did.

Enjoy!

Here are a few of the pillows that have sold lately.  Apparently I underestimated how much people would love these pillows.  I have had soooo much fun watching people come into the gallery and connect with the words or the colors.  It is like they are being matched up with their perfect pillow. I think I might like that even more than creating them...well....it might be a tie ;D

Lady Bird

Lady Bird

By Michele Lee

copyright 2011

Here is just a fun little 5x7 that I did.  I am finding myself being drawn to birds these days.  Don't know why.  But when this happens, I just go with it.  I love the meaning of the Bluebird and how it represents happiness.  Maybe I am in search of that feeling of being content enough to just have a bird on my head.  Maybe it is the season and color is what I am craving.  If I go into thinking about the reasons for some of my art.....I just might go a little crazy.  Instead, I get out the paints and just paint.  Whatever comes out is supposed to at that time.

So, Lady Bird it is!

Enjoy! -M

New Art Pillow

I am having a ball combining painting and fabric.  There is something about fabric that almost makes me cry, I love it so much.  The way it folds and takes color.  The way the wind can catch a piece of silk and wrap it gently around my arm.  There is a time and space for every piece of fabric I find.  Each piece comes with it's own memory.
 That is what I love about it.
Enjoy!

The Blue Bird of Happiness....

Blue Bird of Happiness Pillow

By Michele Lee

Copyright 2011

Children's Summer Art Classes

This weekend at 16 Main Gallery!