Bio
A lifelong resident of Northern Kentucky, Michelle Bergman works and teaches in her Independence, Ky studio. Michelle has trained as a classic oil painter, graphic designer and decorative finisher, and is now focusing her work to combine all these styles into her work on canvas and wood panels. Because of her varied backgrounds, Michelle considers herself a mixed media artist and enjoys working with a wide selection of media including acrylics, textural plasters, charcoal, vintage and hand-painted papers, fibers and unusual tools.
Through years of working with clients and designers as a decorative finisher, she is skilled at adjusting her style as a kind of chameleon to match the needs of each project or commission. She is also accustomed to working very large because of her background as a decorative finisher.
Michelle's subject matter includes loose, moody landscapes, expressive florals, textural abstract work with mark-making and depth, and work inspired by nature.
Michelle's process often begins with vintage or hand-painted papers collaged onto the substrate then stenciling over that with a thick medium like Venetian plaster to created raised patterns and texture. After sketching the images, the painting begins with light layers and building to darker areas as the piece progresses. The goal is to keep the image loose and imperfect. Layers of paint and plasters create depth and interest, and sketchy marks using Stabillo pencils or other tools are added along with mica flakes to add dimension.
Rather than following the traditional norms of art, Michelle is confident in being just a little bit different and strives to live and work with the purpose of expressing in her art the beauty she sees around her. Her mind is always swirling with ideas, and her work table is filled with a beautiful conglomeration of projects. She welcomes commissions and is open to a variety of challenges!