We were lucky to catch up with Michelle Tholen recently and have shared our conversation below.
Michelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?
Using mistakes as points of reflection helped me understand what happened and develop a plan to exhibit attention to detail and produce quality work.
As an artist, many times I am asked to do commissions. It’s imperative to understand what the client wants not what I imagine they should have. Over communication and questions are imperative even if the answers seem straightforward and obvious. From my experience, if I would make assumptions without asking questions would lend itself to mistakes.
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?
Inspired by restrained color and order, I am challenged to create pop using color combination that is refined, suggesting more.
Self-taught I learned to paint studying concepts of Rothko. I find fulfillment creating art on the side. Color fields was my first step into the art world later moving to landscapes. Inspired by color, I seek to create color spaces that match a sensory effect and spectra of light within primary colors.
Educated and working as an accountant, the I found fulfillment creating art on the side when I wasn’t working. Following my passion, “Color & Form” was the first step into the art world. I left a career in public accounting when I realized that audit and tax didn’t satisfy my creative desires. I recognized my artistic talent and as a self-taught artist specialize in contemporary modern art that is driven with a passion for design and creativity.
Since 97′ I have created hundreds of works, curated numerous shows, and exhibits through-out the bay area. Inspired by Turner, Rothko and Pollock, my work is a reflection.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The process of creating art is a learning process that continues for my and life. Witnessing my own growth as an artist is one of the most rewarding parts of being an artist. My work evolves every year and I am very proud of what I have accomplished. I can’t always see everything that I have done as a whole while working on a painting. It is rewarding to studying a painting after it is done. When I can sit back and take in all the detail that bring together a painting as a whole completion.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Purchasing art or commissions. Attending in-person or online events hosted by local art galleries, artists and organizations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michelletholen.com
- Instagram: @michelletholenfineart
