"Art seems to me to be a state of soul more than anything else" ---- Marc Chagall
Biography - Michelle Andrews
A Massachusetts native, Michelle Andrews is a self-taught artist who has learned from the Great Masters. Michelle’s first exposure to fine art was an elective taken as an undergraduate at the University of Massachusetts. To this day she considers it to be the most interesting class she has ever taken. In this Art History course she experienced the work of the Great Masters. The one thing that has stuck with her was “the light” and how a painting came alive with the light that painters knew how to control and how to use to convey energy and vitality. As a pre-med student consumed in the rigors and demands of the sciences, this seemingly unrelated course provided her with the knowledge of observation. Light quality tells a story, a story of moods, of mystery, of health and wellness. She used these observational skills to later look at the face of a patient, to look into the eyes of people to help evaluate the seriousness of the health issues confronting them during their illness. Light or the lack of it provided surprising insight into the health of a patient for an observant medical clinician.
While in Philadelphia as a medical student, weekend trips to the Philadelphia Art Museum provided a needed break from the intense course load. Using newly acquired medical knowledge, the paintings became practical tools to review anatomical lessons. Some paintings lent themselves to medical diagnoses…crooked fingers perhaps indicating gout, yellow skin tones perhaps liver problems. Thomas Eakins’ (1844–1916) painting of Professor Samuel D. Gross in his surgical clinic (The Gross Clinic) tied together the surgical skills of a prominent physician, and the breathtaking art of an extremely talented painter. This remarkable work has left a lasting impression on Michelle.
With surgical electives possible in medical school, Michelle traveled to San Francisco and Boston and again she frequented the world-class museums in San Francisco, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. While visiting the Gardner Museum, Michelle was drawn in by the wonderful etchings and paintings of Anders Zorn (1860–1920), the paintings of John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), Antonio Mancini (1852–1930) and James McNeill Whistler (1834–1903).
Next stop, Yale for an Orthopaedic Surgery residency and visits to the Yale University Art Gallery on Yale’s campus as well as trips to New York City and the MOM. Each time the museum trips added more pleasure, as well as enlightenment into the world of art.
Upon finishing her Orthopaedic Surgery training she joined the faculty at John Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. While living in Baltimore, trips to the Baltimore Museum of Art and in particular the Cone collection occurred on a regular basis. The paintings assembled by the Cone sisters, Etta and Claribel, included works by Henri Matisse (1869–1594), Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Paul Cezanne (1839-1906), E H Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) and Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). These paintings were of particular interest not only because of the unique and outstanding quality of the art but also for the wonderful story of Cone sisters.
Eventually settling in Cincinnati to establish a knee and shoulder orthopaedic surgical practice, she found a community that fully supports the Arts. Both the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Taft Museum hold wonderful art treasures and beautiful easily accessible exhibits. A 2004 New Years’ resolution was to learn how to paint, and after many years of observing wonderful art Michelle felt the time had come to try to “create art” herself. She enrolled in an oil painting class at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, where she took “Beginning Oil Painting: Inside /Outside” taught by Bob Hebenstreit. Michelle enjoyed this class immensely, and showed some ability both as a result of years of studying paintings as well as her natural drawing talent. She then took a second oil painting class with support and encouragement from Bob. He said “You should take a portrait painting class with my wife Carin!” and with that Michelle did and learned much about the painting techniques of the old Masters applied to portraits (Rubins, Titian, Tintoretto, Rembrandt). After studying with Carin, Michelle was hooked on the sensuousness of oil paints and the seductive nature of oil painting and looked forward to other oil painting classes at the Cincinnati Academy of Art, taking many classes with Carin, Joe Peter, and Greg Albert among others.
Since Michelle was beginning her oil painting career much later then most artists, she read books and watched painting DVD/videos to learn how to use the paint to create feeling and transmit energy. She sought out opportunities to gain knowledge and experience with artists whom she respected.
A gift from a friend to attend an oil painting workshop with David Leffel at the Andreeva Portrait Academy in Santa Fe was a most memorable and educational experience. Michelle had discovered David Leffel’s work and was draw by the energy and light in his paintings (chiarscuro). Able to visit the art galleries in Santa Fe while attending the class was an added benefit to the painting trip.
Michelle went to her first Portrait Society of America Annual conference held in Philadelphia in 2008. The experience was fantastic. At the conference she met and attended seminars with all of the current great portrait artists including David Leffel, Sherri McGraw, Michael Shane Neal, Daniel Greene, Dawn Whitelaw, John Howard Sanden, Edward Jonas, Everett Raymond Kinstler, Burt Silverman, Aaron Shikler and Judith Carducci. Being able to watch them paint was an experience of a lifetime. Interacting with them provided a network for ideas, techniques and positive energy to continue her evolution as an artist and oil painter.
The next painting experience for Michelle was portrait painting classes taught by Shalma Prince at Baker Hunt Art and Cultural center in Covington KY. Shalma continued to encourage and expose Michelle to the challenges of oil painting with a nurturing and caring demeanor. This painting experience with Shalma led to the placement of three of her oil paintings into the Annual Baker-Hunt Student Art Show.
Due to her love of travel, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures Michelle has traveled throughout the USA, Canada and Europe and has had the opportunity to enjoy the great museums and the wonderful galleries of Paris, France (Musee du Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, and Musee de l’Orangerie, Musee National Picasso Paris), Quebec City, Canada (Musee national des beaux-arts du Quebec), Venice, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Croatia.
When asked about her favorite artists Michelle leans toward the time period of 1880 -1920 because of notable artists whose work appeal to her, including John Singer Sergeant (1856-1925), Cecilia Beaux (1855-1942), Chaim Soutine (1893-1943), Antonio Mancini (1852-1930), and Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920). The Paris cityscapes by Edouard Leon Cortes (1882-1969) provide a yearning and vivaciousness of the “City of Light”. One of her all time favorite artists is Anders Zorn (1860 -1920) whom she discovered at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The sensitivity and strength of his etchings and paintings are unparalleled.
Favorite contemporary artists include: David Leffel, Sherri McGraw, Craig Nelson and David Curtis. Recently she has met landscape artist Leonard Wren at an art show in St. Augustine, Florida, San Francisco cityscapes artist Hue Seong Yoon at the San Francisco Art School, and landscape artists Kevin and Wanda Macpherson at a workshop and lecture in Middleton Ohio. She continues to seek out fellow artists and share painting experiences with them.
A handwritten note from Sherri McGraw continues to give Michelle inspiration as she grows and evolves as an artist---
