Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Boyd.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I have been a creative my entire life. Growing up, I used to envision my dream home, and there was always an easel by a window- a curious thought for me, as painting was really just a hobby. Whatever I’ve loved doing, I’ve always done with my whole heart – until the end of college, it was dance. For the past 8ish years, it was fine art wedding photography. But underneath it all, I have always been pulled back towards painting.
I began taking more classes a few years ago and found that I felt most at peace with a brush in my hand and a fresh canvas to tackle. So, as of this April, I am a full time abstract and impressionist oil painter, and have been able to run my studio at full force! (My studio is a room in our home, and my trusty sidekick golden doodle, Jessie, keeps me company throughout the day.) I am immensely grateful for the community of collectors, friends, and family, who have encouraged me to *yet again* take the leap into the unknown and embrace my love of painting.
Please tell us about your art.
I love exploring the interplay of colors, infusing movement into abstraction, and drawing emotion from the beauty of creation, specifically within in florals. I especially enjoy finding that happy moment where both color abstracts and impressionist florals meet in the middle. I paint primarily in oils on deep wood panels, from tiny 5×5″ pieces to extra-large statements.
I have always been drawn to the beauty of flowers, and am amazed that something so seemingly simple can bring so much joy. They can be symbols of gratefulness, celebration, joy, apology, sorrow, renewal, hope… the list goes on. I am also deeply inspired by neutral and minimal interiors, especially homes that maintain warmth and comfort despite their simplicity.
Part of my heart is to make others feel the way I do when taking in a joyful, peaceful work of art – calm, centered, and thoughtful. There’s a wealth of hospitality in creating a painting, knowing it’s going to end up in someone’s home, and hospitality has always felt like a huge calling for my life. To know that my work can impact how anyone feels walking into that space is such a simultaneously thrilling and terrifying thought, but I love it! A huge portion of my business is run on commissions, which I LOVE working on. It’s an honor to create something so unique and special for each person’s home, and nothing compares to seeing the final product in its’ finished space.
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
I think it’s incredibly important to reach out to like-minded artists in your area and connect! Thankfully it feels like, in this day and age, “community over competition” is a much more popular concept. There are artists in my area and those I’ve met through social media with similar styles, or who are all inspired by similar things, but at the end of the day our work will be different because of who we are, and the countless things that make us each unique from one another. There is so much JOY in celebrating other artists’ successes and working through hardships together, and some of my closest friends throughout the years have been people in my exact same field.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I primarily sell my work through my website by releasing collections of new work a few times a year. To have first access, you can sign up for my newsletter in the popup on my website! My subscribers will always receive first access to new collections, as well as the occasional “subscriber-only-goody!” I also post lots of updates on my Instagram, including really fun behind the scenes videos and #workinprogress shots of paintings in the works. www.michelleboydstudio.com, Instagram: @michelleboyd_studio
Contact Info:
- Website: www.michelleboydstudio.com
- Email: hello@michelleboydstudio.com
- Instagram: @michelleboyd_studio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelleboydstudio
Image Credit:
Studio photographs by Madeline Harper Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
