at the easel
My take on life
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in the world we live in. Without realizing it we can become distracted, and meaningful moments slip away, beautiful and elusive, so quickly gone. When we stop to notice we become alive and present, and aware of what’s changing in and around us. I’ve made it my challenge to capture those fleeting moments, to forever connect a viewer to a place, time, person or story, and to give them another, longer, chance to breath in its beauty, to live in these beautiful moments - to re-coup, re-set, and re-connect to the things we love.
Unlike so many investments we make, visual art can freeze in time what may otherwise pass us by, and surrounding yourself with art can provide a much needed refuge, a gently pressed break from the rush of life. I believe a scene of beauty can even bring hope to the hopeless, or be a reminder to care for the beautiful world we have been gifted. My love for the life in and around our natural waters and wetlands informs and inspires my work.
My process
Michaelann is a two dimensional visual artist who paints mostly in oils and acrylic or graphite, sometimes mixing mediums which match her goal for the expression of the subject. The focus of her work often relates to her long time fascination with capturing contrasts, in light and shape, but especially in subject matter, which translate ideas of opposite, opposed or conflicting meaning, and is translated in the transitions of technicality in her work. Her subjects are often narrative and sourced from her upbringing by southern women at a time of transition in the understanding of the expectations of American women and their shifting roles and potential in a quickly changing world, which give her a deep emotional roots in the past but appreciation of the opportunity for influence in growing new roles. Since relocating to South Florida, her subject matter depicts the marine landscape and wild life around the region, which she paints en plein air to studio and uses to support conservation efforts for clean local waters. She also paints contemporary still life and portrait, letting the subject be interpreted in a mix of color and technical application with expressive lighting.
education & experience
BA from Montclair State University with an emphasis in printmaking - this gave Michaelann a great appreciation for design and a love for process and experimentation.
Teaching - After maintaining her own business practicing corporate IT Software Training in the NY metro area, she instructed 12 years of middle and high school art as well as adults she taught in her studio.
Michaelann seeks classical training under nationally and internationally known artists such as Michaelann is continually finding ways to explore and grow under nationally and internationally known artists such as Colley Whisson, Roger Dale Brown, Dereck Penix, Carlos San Millan, T.J. Cunningham, Aimee Erickson, Morgan Samuel Price, Peter Van Dyke, John Redmond, as well as mentorship under Marc R. Hanson and Mia Bergeron.
Michaelann paints full-time in her studio in Stuart, Florida, but often travels with her husband to paint en plein air around the U.S.
conservation
Using art to support South Florida waters
Although we lived all over the U.S., South Florida has always been home. We were happy to return in 2015 part-time and 2020 full-time. In that time we became aware of the tragic changes that have occurred since growing up here, in particular having to do with the waters of Florida, inland and coastal. I have been amazed at the increase of plastic washing onto our beaches and in our lagoons, as well as the decline of Everglades. It has become my passion to use my art as my voice to bring awareness to reducing plastic waste, sustainable practices in sport-fishing and wise use of our waters.
A portion of my print sales profits go to supporting organizations which promote clean water in South Florida, including cleaning rivers and the everglades from nitrogen dense water releases and drainage, as well as keeping our waters clean of plastic waste.
Gallery Representation
Rare Earth Gallery
41 SW Flagler Ave, Stuart, Fl 34996
Visit Rare Earth Gallery website
Palm Room Gallery
Harbour Bay Plaza, 3746 SE Ocean Blvd., Sewall’s Point, Florida
Shows, Events & Exhibits
Shows
August 9-September 6, 2025, “Flowing & Flying: A Juried National Exhibition of Waterscapes & Water Birds”, d’Art Center, 740 Boush St, Norfolk VA 23510 juried
September 2025-October 2026 - Artist For Conservation “2025 Virtual Exhibit”, https://www.artistsforconservation.org/festival
July 8 - August 20, 2025, “Timeless Martin: A Centennial Celebration” Courthouse Cultural Center, Stuart, Florida 34996 https://www.martinarts.org/court-house-cultural-center/currentexhibitions.html
July 16-August 30, 2025, “Summer Salon” The Palm Room Art Gallery, Sewell’s Point, Florida, juried
March 2-3, 2024, Martin County Open Studio Tour
December 2024, “Hot Off the Easel”, The Bailey Gallery, Hobe Sound, Florida
July 29-Aug 31, 2024, “The Heat is On” a juried show, 5th Avenue Art Gallery, Melbourne, Fl.
November 2024 - “Boundless: Florida’s Creative Resilience Exhibition” Palm Beach Art, Antique & Design Showroom, 500 N Dixie Highway, Lake Worth, Florida 33460, juried
March-April, 2024, “En Plein Air” a four-person show, The Bailey Gallery, Hobe Sound, Florida, invited
March 2-3, 2024, Martin County Open Studio Tour
Sept, 2023-Oct 2024 - Artist For Conservation 2023 Virtual Exhibit, https://www.artistsforconservation.org/festival
Sept 6-Oct 29, 2023 - Fall Into Art, The Palm Room Gallery, Sewell’s Point, Fl, juried
March 11-12, 2023, Martin County Open Studio Tour
Jan 4-March 5, 2023 - Kaleidoscope, The Palm Room Gallery, Sewell’s Point, Florida, juried
Nov 7-Dec 30, 2022 - 1st Place, ‘Tis the Season, The Palm Room Gallery, Sewell’s Point, Fl, juried
Oct 8-Nov 18, 2022 - 3rd Place Oil/Acrylics, Best of the Best, A.E. Bakus Museum, Ft. Pierce, Fl, juried
Sept 22-Nov 13, 2022 - Perspectives of Paradise, Elliott Museum, Hutchinson Island, Fl.
Sept 22-Nov 13, 2022 - Artist For Conservation 2022 Virtual Exhibit, https://www.artistsforconservation.org/festival
Sept 6-Oct 29, 2022 - Fall Into Art, The Palm Room Gallery, Sewell’s Point, Fl, juried
August 29-Sept 15, 2022 - Clay’s Angels, RCK Gallery, Stuart, Florida, juried
June 10-July 23, 2022 - Be Squared, Courthouse Cultural Center, Marin Arts, juried
July 8 - Sept. 24th, 2022 - 28th Maritime Art Exhibition, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, Or. juried
May 14-June 4, 2022 - Lakeland Art Guild 50th annual Melvin Art Exhibition, juried
May/June 2022 - 1st Place - Spring Forward juried exhibit, The Palm Room Gallery
March 1 - June 28, 2022 - Art Down the Hall, The Elliott Museum, Hutchinson Island, Florida.
March 5&6, 2022, MCOST - Martin County Open Studio Tour
Jan/Feb 2022 - 1st Place - The Palm Room Gallery, juried, Sewell’s Point, Florida
12/4/2021 - “Stuart Then & Now”, RCK Gallery, Stuart, Fl
10/2021 - 2021 ASMA North Regional Exhibition, juried, Krasl Art Center, St Joseph, MI
6/2021 - Rust, 5t Avenue Art Gallery, Melbourne, Fl
6/2021 - Summer Squared: An Invitational of Great Proportions - Gallery 14, Vero Beach, Fl
3/2021 - PSLAL Pop-up Show, Port St. Lucie, Florida
10/2020-11/2020 - Best of the Best Juried Show, A.E. Backus Museum, Ft. Pierce Florida
10/2020-12/2020 - 30th Annual All Florida Juried Art Show, Cultural Court House Galleries, Stuart, Florida, judge Lisa Rockford
3/2020 - 2nd place Alpharetta Figurative Arts - Alpharetta, Ga.
1/2020 - Renewal, Grandview Gallery, Atlanta - juried show
- 2nd place, judge Karl Kroeppler
11/2018 - Fall for Art, Pines & Palms, Georgia Florida Artist Association show, Thomasville, Ga.
10/2017 - Six Points of View - Wild Hope Gallery Group Show, Roswell, Ga.
10/2017 - SAAG Nationally Juried Show, BRMAA Blueridge, Ga.
Plein Air Events and Shows
4/2021 - Ft Pierce Inlet 100 Year Anniversary Plein Air, Ft Pierce, Fl
2/2020 - Plein Fun Fest, Palm Beach Plein Air, Delrey Beach, Fl
- 1st place, judge Bruce Helander
10/2019 - High Cotton Plein Air and Show, Boston Georgia
6/2019 - Gilmer Arts Plein Air, Art in the Mountains 2019 and Show
3/2019 - Savannah Plein Air, Savannah Art Association, Savannah, Ga.
- Honorable Mention, quick paint
10/2018 - Cottin’ Pickin Plein Air and Show, Boston, Georgia,
- Awarded page for the Pines&Palms annual calendar
9/2018 - SAAG Plein Air 14th Annual International Worldwide Artist Paint Out and Show
6/2018 - Gilmer Arts Plein Air, Art in the Mountains 2018 and show
9/2017- SAAG Plein Air 13th Annual International Worldwide Artist Paint Out and Show
Organizations and Boards 2022
Artists for Conservation, signature member
American Society of Marine Artists
American Woman Artists
Board Member Martin Artisans Guild - Professional Member and Newsletter Editor, Marketing Committee
Martin County Arts Council
Previous Board Member Plein Air Palm Beach
