PetiteMichelleLouise

For as long as I can remember, “art” and creativity have been a part of my life. As a child, I would sketch the myriad of birds that would flutter outside the window of my parent's Cape Cod-style home in Maine. Long walks with my father in the woods behind our home, inspired me to capture nature forever by putting pencil-to-paper and drawing the majestic Pine trees and sweet egg-filled nests that we saw along the way. A Saturday drive along the rocky coast of Maine yielded a treasure trove of smooth, sea-tumbled rocks that were all the materials I needed to create petite figurines. Once glued together, a paint brush and some paint brought my imagination to life. As I grew, my love for artistic expression took hold and became more than just a hobby......it became something that was absolutely necessary in order for me to feel “whole.” The desire to create, no matter what the medium, was as essential to me as breathing. I considered majoring in Art in college but was called in a different direction. There were many years that my studies, my job and my family required my time and attention over my artistic expression. Although it lay dormant ,I always knew that one day it would emerge to feel the warmth of the sun on its’ face and smell the fresh spring air once again....another season to bloom. That “season” came to me several years ago when our only child graduated from high school and was preparing to go away to college. It was at that same time that I lost one of my most lucrative contracts as an Educational Audiology Consultant and, with a husband who traveled frequently, I was facing a completely “empty nest.” It was my mother who said to me: “You need to go back to doing what you love...you need to pursue your artistic passion once again.” And so....with no direction or vision to follow but with the unwavering support and encouragement of my loving husband...I listened for that whisper in my heart to guide me on the path that would lead me back to my heart’s true passion...my “art.” In doing so, I have once again found my “wings.”

“The desire to create is one of
the deepest yearnings of
the human soul. No matter our
talents, education,
backgrounds, or abilities, we
each have an inherent
wish to create something that
did not exist before.
Everyone can create. You don’t
need money, position,
or influence in order to create
something of substance. Creation brings
satisfaction and fulfillment.
We develop ourselves and
others when we take organized
matter into our hands and mold it into something of
beauty.”

Dieter F. Uchtdorf