Hello my artist family!
Oh I cannot wait for you to meet today’s spotlight artist — Michelle Wilson from beautiful New Smyrna Beach, Florida. I mean… painting with ocean air nearby? That already sounds like a dream.
Michelle comes from a huge family of artists — painters, sculptors, photographers, wood carvers, illustrators and more. Creativity clearly runs deep in her roots. I always love hearing stories like this because you just know art wasn’t something separate from life — it was woven right into it.
She shared that she “played” with art most of her life, but everything shifted in 2016 when she was living in Dubai. That’s when she decided to get serious and began taking private lessons — and that’s when she fell in love with acrylic painting. I love that moment when playing turns into purpose.
Then fast forward to the start of COVID… and she found Matt and me. Michelle told me that the first time she watched me paint with a palette knife, she knew this was the journey she needed to be on. That just fills my heart. Truly.
Today, Michelle has work in two galleries and continues to learn, grow, and discover within our beautiful artist family. She said, “It is such a joy to be able to paint what I feel!” And that right there is what it’s all about.
When I asked Michelle what inspires her creativity the most, she said being out in nature — taking photos of places most people will never see in person and using them as references for her art. Isn’t that incredible? She’s not just painting landscapes… she’s sharing hidden corners of the world with us.
Here’s the painting she chose to share:
Michelle said she loves the deep, moody nature of this poppy painting — that it feels dramatic and bold. And she’s absolutely right. The richness of that dark background makes the petals glow. The texture gives it movement and strength. It feels powerful and unapologetic.
And honestly, poppies already have personality. Add palette knife texture and suddenly they’re commanding the room like they know exactly how stunning they are.
When it comes to DabblePaints™, Michelle says she loves “the thick, beautiful consistency!” And I just smiled reading that — because that luscious, buttery texture is exactly what makes palette knife painting so freeing. It allows you to build depth, movement, and emotion in a way that feels almost sculptural.
Her advice to anyone just starting out is beautifully simple:
“Just start! Keep going and learning and experimenting! You will find your groove and your own personal style!”
There’s so much wisdom in that. We don’t find our style by waiting. We find it by doing. By experimenting. By giving ourselves permission to grow.
Michelle, thank you for sharing your journey, your bold creativity, and your heart with us. You are such an inspiration, and I know your story will encourage so many artists who are just beginning — or just beginning again.
Keep creating, keep shining, and keep bringing more beauty into the world.
XO,
Jen