Michelle Dahl

About Michelle Dahl

I have always been captivated by various artistic expressions, from body alteration to renaissance masterpieces. I find inspiration in the way that individuals use imagery to convey their distinctive and nuanced identities and narratives. I'm fascinated by anthropology and the biochemistry that underlies human behavior, which is one of the reasons I devote so much time to studying people. I was a self-taught artist until I reached my 30s, when I graduated from Sierra Community College with an A.S. in Studio Arts. I served on the Willapa Heritage Foundation's board of directors in South Bend, Washington from 2017 to 2021. I worked as a resident artist at The Art Studios from 2021 to 2022, helping to hang and curate exhibitions and leading painting classes. I still offer occasional classes in oil painting and fundamental portrait drawing. I founded Career Creatives as an educational resource to assist creative professionals in developing the necessary business skills. I believe that art is a means of expression and communication, and that using these non-verbal forms of expression to communicate complicated concepts is an essential aspect of the human condition. My artistic philosophy is to depict a realistic subject in a plausible setting. Anyone off the streets should be able to understand the painting, in my opinion. I tinker with color, brush texture, and ancillary shapes like hair and fabric to create more appealing and captivating artwork. In my style of oil painting, the composition is tone-sketched with a light wash of burnt umber, followed by multiple layers of color to produce the finished painting. I want to acquire my first thoughts of the color and lighting while the experience is still fresh, therefore my ideal goal is to finish a whole color layer in one session. Then, to emphasize my themes, I can add extra layers of color, adjustments, texture, and glazes. I wish to use my art to foster human relationships and empathy. I want people who view my work to feel understood, connected, and motivated to develop their own communities.