"On a personal level, I attribute much of my passion for art to the fact that I was raised without a television on a lake in rural Alabama. Not having television left a lot of time open for drawing, reading, and spending time outside. I believe it was these early years in my life that planted the seeds in my imagination for a career in the visual arts. At age eleven, I moved to Texas and began to play the violin, by age 13 I was playing with the local university orchestra. My appreciation of music is still very much an influencing part of my work. I see transitions of paint and color much like the way different musical instruments work together. I started College as a Music Major but switched over to Visual Arts after I took a photography class. This was my first "official" art class, and not only did it teach me the techniques of photography and printing – ideas which continue to effect my present work; it reminded me of my "roots" in picture making. I worked in photography for a couple of years as a department assistant and later as an assistant to a photographer. Another experience I was fortunate to have was working as a textile design assistant. This period of time taught me a lot about color and texture in a way few painters ever get to experience. I must also mention the artists I have met along the way whose conversations and discussions on art continue to motivate and inspire me. I am grateful for everyday I get to spend exploring paint." Michele Mikesell

Seen at left, The Riddle from Mikesell's series "Stories from Grimm's" which opened at Altered Space Gallery in the Fall of 2007.

Mikesell shares her thoughts on the creation of the "Grimm's" series: "Stories, and Grimm's in particular, defy the logic in our own lives by thriving on difficulty, conflict, and inconsistency, the very weaknesses of our society. I believe we unconsciously know that these weaknesses are the keys to our future, and we instinctively understand that this is where advancement and creativity comes from.

As I began to paint these stories it became more and more apparent of how I have barely scratched the surface of what is possible to read from these magnificent characters. I am not concerned with making any sort of judgment or theory; I am simply painting the individuals as I see them. "

Mikesell often uses animals and the appearance of whimsy when exploring the darker side of human existence.

At right: "Bob's your Uncle," 2008