Representational Art
Accomplished painter Michele Usibelli has built on her background as an architect and creates loose, bright, intriguing landscapes and everyday scenes. Brush strokes are sure and confident, colors clear and sure, subjects in focus with interesting surroundings. Be sure to check out her blog for recent work too!
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Influences:
LH: Where have you lived throughout your life? How has that shaped your art?
MU: I have traveled extensively throughout my adult years and have lived in Washington, Utah and Alaska. I think these many experiences all come together to help form who I am as an artist.
LH: Did you grow up in an artistic family?
MU: My grandfather was a surgeon and dabbled in art but other than that, not really.
LH: Name a living artist who you flat-out LOVE and think more people should go to see their work.
MU: Tibor Nagy. I own two pieces of his and hope to someday add to that collection.
LH: Who are the artists that influence your work that you know in person?
MU: Jeremy Lipking has had a huge influence on me as he has total control of his brushwork and paint manipulation. Tibor Nagy is constantly pushing the limit with his brushwork and the use of thick/thin paint application.
LH: Who is your favorite artist(s)? Style? Period?
MU: John Singer Sargent for his beautiful compositions.
Your artistic direction:
LH: Describe your first (or alternatively, most recent) artwork.
MU: Being an architect by training, my first artwork was very tight and draftsman like. I have definitely become looser as I have painted more.
LH: What are you up to right now? Current or upcoming projects, shows, experiments, collaborations, etc.
MU: I was just awarded Signature status with Oil Painters of America, which was a long term goal of mine. I recently served as a juror for OPAs upcoming National Show. I also continue to teach workshops throughout the country. Most importantly I am working toward realizing my goal of establishing an art related non-profit, Healing Through Art, in conjunction with the VA Hospital and the Fisher House in Seattle.
LH: What aspect of making art excites you the most right now?
MU: Experimentation and growth excite me the most right now.
Discoveries:
LH: How do you know when a work is finished?
MU: I am very in tune to the pace in which I paint…I paint each piece “in my head” prior to actually putting paint on the canvas so when I begin painting I work at a fairly quick pace. I know when I start to slow down and spend too much time “thinking” about where to put each stroke means that I cam coming to the end and nearing completion of my piece.
LH: Tell me about a time when you had a Eureka moment — what did you discover? What does that say about you? Was it personal discovery or was it about a working method or…?
MU: My Eureka moments have usually been mistakes that I went, “wow, I like that”, a fumbled stroke or even dropping my painting in the ground can result in some amazing energy (it can also be a disaster!)
LH: Is your studio/workspace neat or not neat? — what does that say about you?
MU: My home is very neat and everything is in order, even with the craziness of living with three teenagers, a husband a dog and soon a puppy! Funny enough, my studio is a mess, it’s my alter ego….I hardly ever dust or clean it, only when I’m getting ready to teach a workshop do I straighten it up. I feel it’s my space where I can be totally “free.”
Practical matters:
LH: How do you balance your art with other obligations – mate, children, job?
MU: It’s a constant challenge! I picked up a paintbrush for the first time when my middle child was born so I have had to be a master at juggling. My three kids grew up in my studio each with their own easels, painting alongside me. Now with three teenagers (13, 15 & 16) in the house it’s not getting any easier, especially since I am getting busier and the demands on my time for art related business is increasing.
LH: What mediums are you drawn to use in your artworks?
MU: I am constantly trying new mediums to keep it interesting for me, currently I am painting in oil, acrylic and teaching myself gouache.
Teaching:
LH: Tell me about the classes that you teach and your interaction with students.
MU: I love teaching and sharing my knowledge with other artists. As a teacher I mandate that my students work out of their comfort zone to take advantage of any new concepts I am teaching.
Hopes:
LH: When someone is viewing your work for the first time, what do you hope they’ll see in it? Or, what do you want them to say about your work?
MU: The biggest compliment is to see a viewer smile.
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Contact:
Michele Usibelli
Studio 6
Edmonds Art Studio Tour 