"When I paint, the most exciting part for me is being able to make natural landscapes or plant matter feel as magical and intense to others as I perceive them to be.  A large part of my art making process is seeking out natural areas throughout the changing seasons to gather inspiration. I like to incorporate a variety of materials in my acrylic paintings, such as collage, sewing thread, crochet, and other mixed media.  For example, I use sewing thread to create an element of texture and “chaos” in my paintings that imitates the structure of plant roots. My works draw heavily on my own experiences in nature, and I have a strong focus on portraying the feeling of being immersed in various natural spaces.  The paintings I create are an exploration of the magical moments that can often be found in seemingly mundane places."

 

Michelle Schilling is a mixed media artist based in Milwaukee. She was born and raised in Neenah, WI and grew up with a love of the many natural landscapes near her midwestern home. After graduating from Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design with a BFA in painting in 2016, Michelle has continued her work with nature-focused acrylic and mixed media paintings. Often just equipped with her cell phone for photos, she documents her explorations of the midwest and beyond to inspire her paintings. Michelle has been an artist with Var Gallery since 2017 and has participated in many local group exhibitions. Her solo exhibition Ethereal Garden at Var Gallery in 2020 brought together a large quantity of her paintings to create a “window” into the dream landscapes she likes to envision. Michelle continues to explore and experiment with conveying exciting moments in nature to those around her.​