Meet Kathleen Michael | Oil Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kathleen Michael and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kathleen, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
Am I good enough? Do I have what it takes to be a successful painter? What is success anyway? These are all the questions that I faced more than a decade ago when I jumped-into painting on a more serious level. And believe me, they continue to this day in one form or another. Segue to my most favorite affirmation/quote by writer Deborah Moggach ((The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel).

“The only real failure is the failure to try, and the measure of success is how we cope with disappointment.”

Painting, for me, is a labor of love. Yet the process of painting and the road taken through each individual composition is filled with a myriad of decisions that can sometimes include mistaken choices, a.k.a. disappointments. Each time I face the easel, whether painting a landscape or a still-life, I evaluate what I am trying to capture through the elements of: composition harmony, color selection, shapes, light, value, temperature, mood, and impact. This multitude of choices embodies opportunities for celebration AND disappointments as I move along in the painting process. My mantra focuses on turning these disappointments into learning lessons by: understanding why a particular painting decision is not working; applying perseverance to each misstep correction; and understanding that my painting only gets better by embracing the mistaken choices. In retrospect, the disappointing moments and dilemmas hold almost more opportunities for growth as the lessons learned are hard-earned and have an emotional impact. Redefining the disappointments as positive and helpful experiences not only helps me through the frustrating period, but serves to sharpen my skills with the painting presently on the easel and/or for a future painting. People often say to me “You are so talented”. I often reply that “It takes 5% talent and 95% practice and perseverance.

And so I define my success as my ability to persevere and try to capture inspiration and impact in a painting, recognizing and reminding myself that I must try, and that any disappointments I face along the way are pearls of wisdom that can take me to a higher level.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The recent pandemic has opened up my emphasis upon still life compositions in the studio. I have an unexpected passion for paper bags, textiles, and other found objects. I am drawn to capturing the strong presence which an everyday object can embody. My goal of rendering shifting planes, folds, and patterns has taken the forefront.

I still adore landscape painting, which I continue to paint. I find that interspersing still life realism painting opportunities with landscape painting gives me a balance between parts of my personality. The realism efforts satisfy that part of my psyche that always looks for order. But it needs the creative break of a colorful landscape in order to feel whole and recharged…crazy as this all seems!

I love working within the medium of oils – the smell, textures, color mixing, and making marks with my brushes. Light and its impact on value and color have an especially strong emphasis in my work and drive the connection to the emotional side of my compositions.

I remain enamored with the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Periods. I will probably always look to their stewardship of expressive painting driven by light and color.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When I have family or friends that visit, and if we are only talking about citylife, the first stop would be to the art museums. Visual creativity is what drives my energies and my choice of friends usually circle within the same sphere. After museums,,,,galleries. Is there an artwalk night, an art festival? Let’s head there. But if there are trails to hike on, that’s where to go early in the morning. I love being outdoors, unless painting in the studio. But sitting back and serving up a good meal at the house and sitting on the porch with a nice glass of wine, ect. Is what might top off the day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First, let me say that my husband has always been my source of support and “my rock”. He values my efforts and pathway of creativity as much as his own. (He is a photographer.). My travels with him have served as a tremendous source of landscape inspiration and has provided great opportunities for widening my visual perceptions.

Second, I would like to pay tribute to a remarkable lady by the name of Maggie Price from New Mexico. When I delved into the world of pastel painting , before arriving into the oil painting world, Maggie offered unending support and down-to-earth advice. Her presence is missed by many, as she is no longer with us. She may not be a name that many in the art world recognize, but to those who knew her, she was an inspiration.

Website: Kathymichael.art

Instagram: Kathymichaelart

Facebook: KathleenMichael