We were lucky to catch up with Michelle Mcgraw recently and have shared our conversation below.

Michelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I have had many influences in my art journey. My maternal grandmother sewed the majority of my clothes when I was younger. Watching her create magic on her sewing machine is one of my earliest memories. She had siblings who were also always sewing, painting, wood working, etc. They were probably my earliest influences, along with my elementary art teacher Alice Lobell. My mother and father were very supportive of my creativity as well.

When I decided to become an Art teacher I was assigned to intern with Dian McCray. I had no idea how influential she would be in my life. So much of who I am as an artist and teacher is wrapped up in the influence of Dian. She is the one who taught me the importance of creating in front of my students. Up until I began teaching at the high school level, creating art was a personal experience. She showed me what it meant to truly mentor younger artists through not only words, but actions and modeling studio behaviors. One of my favorite things about teaching high school is getting to learn along with my students. I am a life-long learner who is not too proud to acknowledge that my students know things I don’t. The studio space at school is a give and take environment.

Cam Sabo, fiber artist, is another who has mentored me in such a selfless way. She took a newly formed interest I had in fiber arts and opened a whole new world of creating to me. Her enthusiasm for weaving and spinning is contagious. She is one of those people that encourages in an authentic way. Her support has been incredibly special to me.

Knowing what I know now I would have began building a connection to artist and creators earlier in my life. There is so much to learn from others, not to mention the creative inspiration they bring. I believe that being willing to observe, reflect and respect others’ work, habits and skills is essential to growth.

Time is always the biggest obstacle for me. I have so much I want to create. I try to remind myself that time is a gift. Being able to use my time to create, whether it be painting, weaving, photography or something else, always contributes to learning. Learning always fuels my desire to create. It is a beautiful cycle.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am thrilled to share my journey as an artist and educator. This is my 19th year teaching visual arts in Alabaster, Alabama, where I have the privilege of inspiring creativity in my students daily. Outside the classroom, I am blessed with a supportive husband, three wonderful children and a large extended family who bring joy to my life.

Art is both my profession and passion. Whether in front of my paints, at my loom, behind a camera, or exploring the outdoors, I am constantly seeking inspiration from the beauty of God’s creation. My work has been showcased in various exhibitions across Alabama, reflecting my love for diverse media and techniques. From woven goods and jewelry to painting custom pet portraits on ornaments, I enjoy exploring new creative avenues and sharing my craft with others.

In every piece I create and every lesson I teach, my goal remains the same: to celebrate the beauty around us.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I believe it is hard for a non-creative to understand the feeling of accomplishment that comes from creating something. To be able to take materials and form them into something you appreciate is a thrill that I think a lot of people don’t comprehend.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I’m not sure that anyone taught me this, but I had to unlearn undervaluing my worth. I have a wonderful creator friend, Charli Hamlin who is so good at reminding me to price my products in a way that reflects my time and talent, not just supply costs.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: mountainviewfibers
• Linkedin: /mountainviewfibers