Michelle Shipka
About Michelle
Website: www.mystudiomichelle.com
Michelle Shipka was born in Oak Park Illinois in 1968 and lived there until she moved to Naperville in 1972. Her family moved into a modest house in a typical suburban neighborhood. She had some great times in the 70s as a child. They were always playing outside, unlike the generations to follow. She was a creative child and really enjoyed making things. In high school Michelle received an award for mixed media because she was always trying new ways to make art. She received a degree from NIU in Graphic Design and a Minor in Studio Art. Her first job in the art field was in the layout department at the Naperville Sun Newspaper. After a couple years there she worked for a small design agency and then an agency in Chicago. There were some things about the design field that she enjoyed, however, she felt that the technical field was not something that she wanted to do anymore. After a year and a half of graduate school in Art Therapy, she decided that this was not for her either. Michelle began teaching art classes at a few of the local schools and later developed and taught an art class on the elements of design. Since then, she has established a personal painting style and has been showing her work in on-line and live exhibitions hoping to establish a following.
Some of her recent live exhibits include the ARC Gallery in Chicago where she was invited to the Our Planet Ourselves Exhibition in 2021. This was such a positive experience that it inspired her to plan a Solo Exhibit in 2023. In 2022 she was also selected to show her work in the International CAL Exhibit in Conroe, Texas and in the 2024 Proud To Be Seen Exhibition at the Bruce Baughman Studio & Gallery in Tubac, Arizona. She was accepted to eight on-line exhibitions from 2021 to 2024 and won First Place in the Red Bluff Art Gallery Open Call International Exhibition in 2024. Michelle was published twice in Chicago Gallery News and twice in Mutual Art. She appeared in the December 2021 issue of Artistonish and the September/October 2024 issue of Spotlight Magazine curated and published by Circle Foundation for the Arts, Lyon, France. In November 2024 she received the Masterful Minds Award/Publication curated by Circle Foundation for the Arts and published by World Wide Art Books, California.
Artist Statement
<<My artwork is a reflection of inner layers of myself and my experience just like the layers of paint on the canvas. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Graphic Arts from Northern Illinois University and a Minor in Fine Arts. I worked in the Graphic Design field for seven years and Early Childhood Education for five years in an attempt to bring art expression to the lives of children. Although these experiences were rewarding, I found that creating art with paint and canvas was my true passion.
As an artist, I find joy in representing ordinary, everyday objects in a new, playful and imaginative way. I depict objects in my paintings in a way that makes them seem to come alive. Through my artwork, I aim to bring a fresh perspective to the things we often take for granted. My layering technique I use in most of my paintings allows me to experiment with different colors, textures, and shapes, allowing new ideas to flow and change direction. Layering also allows for a sense of depth and enables me to transform a painting into something entirely different from where it began. The old layers show through just enough to create interest and a richness. In addition to objects we can see, symbols, numbers, and letters appear to float suggesting an unseen world of information all around us. Just like in life, pieces of old experiences remain and peek through just enough to create a full and meaningful existence. It's like going on a creative journey, where I never know exactly where I'll end up, but I'm always interested to see what I discover along the way.
My great-grandparents owned a restaurant so preparing and sharing good food in a warm and comforting environment was part of growing up. Many of my paintings reflect this wonderful memory honoring my family’s hard work and creativity.
Painting is an outlet for me, a break from the stresses and challenges of everyday life. Through my art, I can process my emotions, find healing, and express myself in ways that words alone cannot. It's a way for me to tap into my innermost thoughts and feelings and communicate them visually to the world. I also enjoy unusual color combinations to keep the viewer on their toes and inspired.
Overall, my goal as an artist is to create artwork that is both visually striking and emotionally meaningful. By representing everyday objects in a new and whimsical way, I hope to spark joy, inspire creativity, and encourage viewers to look at the world around them with fresh eyes.>> (Michelle Shipka)
