Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michelle Barillaro. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Fall 2017- my daughter was a rising senior in high school so I finally had time and the space to create again after many years of focus on being mom and working full time as an architect/ contractor.

Michelle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve always been a creative person- making cards for family, creating plays with props, taking charcoal drawing and pastel classes in grade school, thru experiencing ceramics, painting, drawing in college while obtaining a degree in Architecture from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

I currently work full time as an architect, but paint regularly, participate in art shows and festivals, galleries, and teach a painting workshop in my studio about once a month.

My work is always abstract- intuitive, calming, ethereal and from my head without preconception of image or composition. I am inspired by nature and the built environment around me, but don’t try to replicate it. The balance of value, color and shape to evoke feelings personal to the viewer is what makes my paintings sing. Most collectors respond to a completed painting, but I also do commissions. My mission is to make art accessible to everyone.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Seeing someone react to a painting, tell me how it makes them feel, describe a memory it evokes and taking it home to love is rewarding. That feeling I get from their enjoyment of something I’ve created from letting my mind wander freely is what makes the experience worthwhile and inspire me to continue.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I started painting again, it was very much just something to express creative low key. I quickly realized it was something I was good at and built on the knowledge I already had, started attending painting workshops, reading books, watching online tutorials, I traveled to multiple art fairs within a 4-hour radius of my home, often taking off a Friday from my full-time job and getting back late Sunday to work early on Monday. Ater about two years I realized I was doing too much, and starting to sacrifice my main source of income. I focused on the workshops/ art fairs I really enjoyed and those that were profitable and ultimately traveled less. I put more time and attention into teaching my own workshops locally and those have become a great opportunity for meeting people, growth, and art sales.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://michellebarillaroart.com
• Instagram: m.bartist

Image Credits

Michelle Barillaro