Below are some of the most common questions posed to Michele-lee by those who have emailed her over the years. She has decided to answer them and place them here so all can learn about who this fantasy artist is, and what makes her tick.
Professional Bits and Pieces:
How long have you been a professional illustrator?
2008 will see me entering into my fifth year as a professional illustrator, during that time I have completed the cover artwork and internal illustrations for the four 'Ancient Mirrors' Tales by Jayel Gibson, 'T.Turtle's First Adventure' a children's picture book by R. Pridmore, the artwork for meditational cd 'As Above, So Below' by Lucy Cavendish, a selection of artworks for 'The Oracle of the Dragonfae' by Lucy Cavendish, and all artworks for an oracle deck based upon greek mythology to be published by Blue Angel Galleries. There have also been a large number of character illustrations, personal commissions and personal works.
What level of training have you attained?
I am very honest about the fact that I have had no formal training except in the school of 'Life'. Everything I have learned over the last seven years since I began to paint again has come from reading countless books on technique, from the dissection and scrutiny of other artist's work, and finally, by painting and experimenting on a daily basis. Practise is the key to improvement and refinement, and I, being a perfectionist, hone my skills with a dedication which borders on *laughs* the obsessive.
What media do you work with?
I work with many different media - mixed media, acrylics, watercolours, gouache, coloured pencil and ink. I also paint digitally using Corel Painter, and am highly proficient with both pen and graphite.
Why do you paint fantasy?
I have always loved the idea that we cannot see everything and that there are different planes of existance and reality. Fantasy allows me to peer into those hidden worlds and bring them to life within the hearts and minds of others. This I believe to be a very important key to healthy emotional and psychological development. To imagine is to create, and to create is why we exist. For me personally, to paint something from one's imagination is both challenging and stimulating and to make a creature or character real for another is an experience worth repeating.
Personal Bits and Pieces:
What is your marital status?
I am deeply in love with and eternally committed to my partner and soulmate of 17 years, and father of my two beautiful children.
Why an artist?
I paint because I must. As a child, when I was not dreaming of wandering distant shores, I was painting pictures in my mind, in my books and on my walls. All available pieces of paper were covered in drawings. Drawing and painting has always been second nature. The only other passion that I had as a child was reading, and if the book had beautiful illustrations then I was doubly blessed.
During my teen years, I allowed myself to believe that I had no talent, so my pens and papers were put away in the drawer. My dreams of becoming an artist, illustrating fairy tales, and painting fantasy realms were forgotten. I moved out into the '9 to 5' world and took on several different roles - secretary, accounts clerk, personal assistant, receptionist. I even studied hairdressing for several years.
I was not happy. In fact, I became very ill. I suffered from acute depression for over a decade. It was only when I was reintroduced to art as a form of therapy, that I began to understand the source of my illness. I had denied the creative essence of me. I had allowed my fear of failure to cage me. Many weeks and months later, I no longer suffer from depression. I am a poor, struggling artist, who is now healed and at peace and the happiest I have ever been. By reawakening my dreams, and placing my feet upon this path of colour and magick, I believe I am fulfilling my destiny.
Why do you only paint goddess, dragon, and mythological art?
I have always loved the idea that we cannot see everything and that there are different plains of existance and reality. Painting mythological, dragon, and goddess art allows me to peer into those hidden and ancient worlds and bring them to life in the hearts and minds of others. It is my magick, and without magick there would be naught but greyness.
What are your future goals?
I have been painting professionally for since mid 2003. During this time, my style has evolved and changed in many ways. With every new artwork I grow in confidence, and with the growing confidence I allow myself to dream bigger dreams.
Over the next few years, I would like to be able to focus on painting cover illustrations, while learning more about creating characters and telling stories with pictures. My ultimate goal is to write and illustrate both my own stories, and the stories of others. If in ten years time,if I can go into my local bookstore and point out several covers that I have painted, then I will be content.
What or who inspires you?
Everything and nothing - life, nature, dreams, my family, my pets, my faith. My favourite artists are Thomas Canty, Stephanie Law, Linda Bergkvist, Larry Elmore, Clyde Caldwell, Keith Parkinson, and Michael Whelan. They sustained me through my teenage years, and inspired me to chase my dreams.
Do you have any pets?
*laughs* My house is a zoo! I have two kids, who are beautiful pets. I love them dearly. Pets of the non-human variety are in abundance also. I have two cats, one blue-tongue lizard, 2 dogs, and one galah who thinks he's a currawong.
What are your hobbies?
I wish. After being an artist, wife, lover, mother, cook, housewife, zoo-keeper, so on and so forth, there is not much time left over for hobbies. I collect crystals, read books on esoteric symbology, spirituality, philosophy and metaphysics, I take photos, I write mediocre poetry and slightly better fantasy fiction, and I listen to music, and when I need to turn off and shut the world out, I practise meditation.
What turns you on?
My lover. *grins* I love looking at the moon, and sitting in the sun. I love walking around in bare feet, and jumping in puddles. I love nature, animals, and the smell of the ocean. I admire loyalty, and respect those who are wiser because their knowledge and wisdom comes from experience and practise as opposed to theory alone.
What turns you off?
Arrogance, rudeness, and religious and racial intolerance are my number one dislikes. I dislike teachers who use ridicule to enforce a lesson, and being told that I cannot do or be something simply because it does not fit another's idea of who or what I am. Other things that irk me are false modesty, and people who refuse to be responsible for their choices and actions.
Do you have any regrets?Not a one. The choices, actions and mistakes made in my past have made me the person I am today. I like who I am, so why would I regret something which has helped forge my 'self'.
