Creative collection Artist Sam Michelle shares her floral scapes
FROM HER QUIET COASTAL STUDIO, STILL-LIFE ARTIST SAM MICHELLE SOWS THE STORY OF HER LIFE INTO HER BLOSSOMING FLORAL SCAPES
Stepping through the doors of Sam Michelle’s art studio in Blind Bight, Victoria, you are surrounded by a veritable jungle of botanical inspiration. In one corner, native blooms spread their foliage across the walls in a wild rebellion, while green, leafy bouquets “pose” obligingly as life models in front of their striking portrait versions. “I use flowers to tell my stories. Each collection tells a story about what is occurring in my personal life,” says the still-life artist from her sunny home studio. “I want viewers to feel my personality in my work and to see their story within mine.” The creative world has long been a part of Sam’s life – her maternal grandfather was a jewellery designer and her grandmother was a ceramicist and china painter. “When I was 16, my late Grandpa saw my dedication and passion towards painting,” says Sam. “His eyesight was deteriorating and he gifted me all his art books, tools and his oil paints. Some tubes I still have today.” Despite honing her skills at an early age, Sam pursued a corporate career in finance, while continuing to teach herself to paint after hours. After 13 years, and with a little encouragement from her husband Darren, Sam took the plunge and began pursuing her art full time. Today, Sam is now represented by Gallerysmith in Melbourne and exhibits her work physically once a year and online twice a year. Her most recent exhibition ‘Blink’ tells the story of the shift in raising her young boys, Carter and Jasper, into independent young men. “I wanted to talk about activities we no longer do with our children, such as piggybacks and holding hands, so I set up my flowers as little characters to portray my story,” says Sam of her oil works. “I love painting from life as I am a huge fan of texture and line, and love to feel the flowers and play around with the composition.” Nature plays an important role in informing Sam’s creative process, both as a muse and as a medium to convey her stories. “I start my day with a whip around my garden to see what has blossomed, as painting from my own garden is the most rewarding. I’ll put a record, playlist or podcast on and get to work,” explains Sam. “I have learnt the best way to get a creative surge is heading to a nursery or my favourite florist. Discovering new varieties of flowers, especially complicated ones like a bearded iris, picks me right up out of any slump.” At first glance it’s easy to be distracted by the vivid blooms of Sam’s work, but look a little closer and you’ll uncover a story of identity, home and motherhood, bound together in a delicate bouquet – a fascinating, and beautiful, connection between the people and plants that surround her.
“MAKERS, CREATIVES AND GROWERS INSPIRE ME THE MOST, I AM A CONSTANT COLLECTOR OF TEXTILES, CERAMICS AND ART. I AM FOREVER ON THE HUNT FOR NEW VARIETIES OF FLOWERS TO CHALLENGE ME.” ~ SAM