My husband gave me a wondrous gift the other day..
a dead carpenter bee he found in the yard.
He knows me so well.
This beautiful
black-velvety little creature
and his single coppery wing..
will live again
in my paintings.
Giving
PENCIL DRAWINGS AND THE ART OF PERSONAL MAIL
When Richard and I were dating
he mentioned how nice it would be to receive
some personal mail once in a while..
instead of the usual bills and junk.
As you can see..
I was more than happy to send him some.
Steve Gompf, Oreo Cookies and the Art of Constructive Criticism
Portrait of Steve Gompf by Michele Bledsoe
In 2018, the world lost a great artist
and I lost my friend.
A true creative genius..
Steve Gompf was one of the most wildly imaginative
and passionate artists I have ever known..
and he taught me the true meaning
of constructive criticism.
When we shared a gallery years ago
my work had become very gray.
Soft tones and faded colors..
I was struggling with my palette
and I had lost my way.
It was Steve who brought me back.
Wonderfully eccentric,
playful and engaging..
Steve was also as blunt as a sledgehammer.
He marched up to my work
and held an Oreo cookie against a “dark” area
in one of my paintings..
“That’s not dark!” he exclaimed,
“THIS is dark.”
I was floored.
He was absolutely right.
After this artistic epiphany
my work improved dramatically.
When Steve asked me to paint his portrait
I had no words..
but I was thrilled at the opportunity
to pour out my love and gratitude
in a way we would both understand.
Lost Dolls and the Art of Perserverance
“Lost and Found Again” by Michele Bledsoe
The floppy yellow doll in the lower left corner of this painting is Beth..
my sister’s beloved childhood doll.
Many years ago,
in a moment of carelessness
Beth was lost
and my sister was filled with regret.
It broke my heart.
For over 20 years, I have relentlessly searched for Beth.
Antique stores, yard sales
and endless, insomnia-fueled internet searches.
A noble quest
to reunite my sister with her beloved doll.
Recently, my doll-hunting obsession
came up in conversation.
My sister remembered me telling her about it
10 years ago.
She was touched that after all this time
I had not given up.
I told her I would look for Beth
for the rest of my life
if that’s what it took to find her…
The next day, Beth was found.
As my husband held me in his arms..
I wept tears of joy.
My quest is over.
I am at peace.
Dollhouse Paintings and the Art of Giving Your All
My sister asked me to make a painting
to hang in her dollhouse.
So I did.
With squinting eyes,
I leaned in close
and poured my soul onto that tiny canvas.
Is it a waste of time to put so much of myself
into a 2″ x 2″ square?
No.
Art is all or nothing.
Every time.
SEEDs for Autism and a Place to Grow
I work with young adults on the autism spectrum.
In other words, my days are spent with some of the most
fascinating, honest and creative individuals
I have ever known.
I am there to lift them up..
and encourage them to grow.
I am also their writing instructor.
In addition to a monthly newsletter,
my students create the content for their own blog
where they can share all their unique interests
and experiences with the world.
I am glad to be a part of it.
SEEDs for Autism is a vocational training program that teaches young adults on the autism spectrum a multitude of job skills focused on the arts. For more information about this life-changing program, please visit SEEDs for Autism.
Cat Portraits and the Art of Being Selfless
“Portrait of Munchkin Giggle-Sprinkles” by Michele Bledsoe
Recently, I put aside my work in progress..
and ignored a looming deadline
to pour myself into a special request –
A portrait of my sister’s beloved cat
who passed away last year.
This is what art is all about.
Not the galleries and the exhibits.
Not the personal attention
and public exposure…
it’s about the gift
and what you choose to do with it.
Terrifying Visions and the Art of Trusting the Gift
“The Ghost and My Obsession” by Michele Bledsoe
Several years ago I was sitting at my desk
in my high-level corporate job
and I had a terrifying vision.
I imagined myself far in the future
sitting at the same desk..
doing exactly the same thing
and wondering to myself
what life would have been like
if I had decided to pursue my art instead.
Not long after that, I quit my job..
and let my path take me to where I was meant to be
instead of where I thought I should go.
In life, as in art
we must be fearless.
Trust the gift.
Sowing Seeds and the Art of Sharing Knowledge
“The Church of Instinct”, “As Above So Below” and “From the Old House” by Michele Bledsoe
First and foremost, I am a painter..
but I am other things as well.
I have learned a lot
throughout the course of my life..
cultivating valuable skills
that I have worked hard to accumulate.
Through trial and error
I have gained experience..
And with years of practice
I’ve learned to do things
that I used to think were
miles beyond my capabilities.
I suppose I could hold a series of costly workshops
on a number of topics..
everything from social media marketing
to formatting and publishing ebooks.
Or maybe I could hoard my knowledge
and use these skills for myself alone.
Instead,
I went in a different direction..
choosing to focus more on
what good can I do through sharing my various gifts
rather than how much money I can make
selling them.
So now I spend my days
working with young adults within the autism spectrum..
teaching them
everything I’ve learned.
Maybe that’s not the path
to making myself a ton of money..
but by sowing these seeds
and watching my students grow
I am already rich beyond measure.
The Desire to Create and the Art of Embracing Your Gift
The Bridge by Michele Bledsoe
The desire to create is a gift from God.
The ceaseless passion to paint and draw
has been with me since childhood..
and by embracing this gift
it has defined my path in life
and led me to my purpose.
By nature,
the gift is selfless.
It has nothing to do with
the empty pursuit
of fame and fortune..
it is so much more than that.
Through art,
I met my husband
made friends..
and forged relationships.
Through art,
I became a volunteer drawing teacher
for a group of inner city kids..
and began working with young adults within the autism spectrum.
As an artist
I’ve found that’s it’s not all about me..
I am just a paintbrush in God’s hand.
