Michelle East -Germantown, TN Artist

Recently I was able to spend a whole day studying with one of my favorite artists!

 Zoe Nadel   http://www.galleryzoe.com

Zoe is a local treasure here in the Memphis area and I am so blessed to call her my friend, as well as my teacher.  She founded the Germantown/Memphis Art League and her work is in many public, private and corporate collections. Her art work is available through her website or at The Fountain Art Gallery in Memphis on Poplar Ave. Check out her beautiful, thought provoking use of color, shape and form. It is exquisite.

About a week ago Zoe allowed me into her art studio where time stands still and magic is in the air.
I began by learning many of the basics that I had not been taught over the course of my art training.  Zoe is so patient, giving and encouraging as an instructor. Her studio is such a place of creativity and tranquility it seemed as though I was transformed into another world, so much so that I did not look up for almost four hours! Even then I didn't want to leave but I thought I had better get going before she had to kick me out! :)

"And however our stories end,  you have re-written mine by being my friend."
Thank you Zoe.

Zoe Nadel and eight other local women will be a part of a solo show that I am having at the Germantown Community Theatre Feb. 25 - March 13.  My art show will feature women in our community who have survived breast cancer and will be featured on a Wall of Champions! ( I will have other new artworks up as well.)  This is in conjunction with Baptist Memorial Hospital and our goal is to raise the awareness of women survivors.  The production at GCT is The Dixie Swim Club.  Please plan to come. I would love for you to be there. It is sure to be a lovely performance.  For tickets and more information http://www.germantowncommunitytheatre.org

Directed by Leigh Ann Evans Show Times: 7:30 PM Thursday 8 PM Friday - Saturday 2:30 PM Sunday Tickets $15 - $20 Children 12 & under $10 Sponsored by: Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women Presented by ArtsMemphis, TAC and Germantown Arts Alliance Box Office 754-2680 3037 Forest Hill-Irene Road Germantown, TN 38138 Office 901-754-2680

Till next time,

Michelle East - Memphis, Tennessee Fine Art Photography

I have been so busy in the studio the last week! So much fun creating, exploring and learning about art, poetry, and music. I have a new poetry book called Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou and it is an inspiring book of art by Paul Gauguin and poetry. Http://www.mayaangelou.com

Wanted to share with you my new Fine Art Photography done with infrared equipment.

These pieces have been well received and will be featured at the Spring into Green 2011 Juried Art Sale at Shelby Farms in Memphis, TN on April 2nd.

Please stop by and say hi! I will be there from 5-9 pm.

http://www.Michelleeaststudio.com to view more of my portfolio.

Till next time,

Michelle East - Memphis, Tennessee Artist featured on Live at 9 WREG

Here is a video of my Live at 9 television debut! Watch as I am interviewed by Mary Beth Conley and Alex Coleman live at Peabody Place downtown Memphis, TN. We are discussing how I create my digital art and also promoting my solo art show at The Great Hall and Conference Center in Germantown which will be on display until Sept. of 2011. http://www.germantowngreathall.com

I am so pleased to be able to share this with you.

If you would like to see more of my artwork, my website is http://www.MichelleEastStudio.com 
And for more information on Live at 9 WREG TV their website is http://www.wreg.com/shows/liveat9

Till next time,

Michelle East Photography Studio - New Work for the New Year

Today I completed the third and fourth in this series for my daughter's room.  She loves these for the color and bold statement.  Done just for fun, doing these allow me to warm up a little before I go into my painting session for the day.  These are 16x20 oil on canvas. Inspired by Andy Warhol and his color studies.   :)  Photography of me and my artwork by Kailee East.
To see more of my artwork you can go to my website at http://www.michelleeaststudio.com

Till next time,

Michelle East Art & Photography Working with the Wooberry Dolls!

Look what I got for Christmas!

I opened a card from a colleague Melissa Conroy, whom I collaborated with on the Le Bonheur Children's Hospital project in 2010. Inside the card was this super cute calendar 

she had made and to my surprise, 

she gave me photo billing right on the front page!  :) 

 Thank you so much Melissa!  It is my pleasure to work with you. 

Melissa Conroy's sweet dolls - named woOberry dolls , were the feature of many photographs I took that are now adorning the walls of Le Bonheur's brand new children's hospital in downtown Memphis, TN. 

Check out Melissa's Website http://www.wooberry.com. It is so much fun for kids! Full of bright colors, artwork, dolls and much more! She is also the author of a wonderful children's book Poppy's Pants, we have a signed copy I am pleased to say, and my kindergardener loves it!

 I was so blessed to work on a project of this scale with so many caring and wonderful women who make up the Le Bonheur Club.  For more information about the new children's hospital or the sponsoring artwork for the hospital, you can go to their website at http:/www.lebonheur.org

Till next time my friends,

Michelle East -Germantown, TN Artist New Art

I have been working on the Water Lilly Series all week and have settled on these 5,

 sized at 16 x 20  Mixed Media on Canvas.

In February and March, I plan to display these at an art show at The Germantown Community 

Theatre during the run of The Dixie Swim Club production. 

More of my new works will be shown during the show as well.

http://www.germantowncommunitytheatre.org

The Dixie Swim Club

February 25th. - March 13th.

2011

Directed by Leigh Ann Evans

Show Times:

7:30 PM Thursday

8 PM Friday - Saturday

2:30 PM Sunday

Tickets $15 - $20
Children 12 & under $10

Sponsored by: Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women

Presented by ArtsMemphis, TAC and Germantown Arts Alliance

Box Office 754-2680

3037 Forest Hill-Irene Road
Germantown, TN 38138

Office 901-754-2680

http://www.Michelleeaststudio.com to see more of my artwork :)

Till next time,

Michelle East Photography Studio - Will Work for Cupcakes :)

What a fantastic job I have!
I am so thankful that I get to do what I love and get paid for it.
I could not ask for anything more than this!
To top it all off, I have the sweetest clients!
Today I photographed CUPCAKES!!!!!!!!
Yes, the most delicious cupcakes in the world, GiGi's Cupcakes.

Today I went to the bridal expo and photographed the cupcake display the lovely ladies from Gigi's had set up to show brides how wonderful cupcakes can be for a wedding.  I am in total agreement on this one ladies. Just take a look at how elegant these cupcakes can be.

With flavors like Scarlett's Red Velvet, Texas Milk Chocolate, White Midnight Magic, Kentucky Bourbon Pie, Coconut Snowball, Wedding Cake, Caramel Apple, Birthday Cake, Hunka Chunka Banana Love, Lemon Dream Supreme, Italian Cream Wedding Cake, Peanut Butter Cup, Pumpkin Cream, Cookies and Cream, Boston Cream, Banana Cream Pie...............

Check out more flavors and info. at 

http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com/germantowntennessee

This is the topper for the cupcake tier. 

Visit their locations in Memphis and Germantown and tell them that I sent you!

Enjoy the sweet life,

Michelle East Photography Studio - New Work for the New Year

I've had a great week working on this beautiful water lilly set. These are each available is size 16 x 20 and are mixed media on canvas. I may add one or two more to the series because they are so graceful and full of life.  It amazes me how they grow out of the water and into the light.  The original photography for this series was taken on Paradise Island, Bahamas at Versailles Garden.

Through out the length of Versailles garden a stone path covered in Bermuda grass connects the garden's terraces and demarcates Versailles into two mirrored halves. It is a spectacularly lush landscape set in a rectangular design which is about 75 feet wide.

There will be more to come.... my next series is on the Orchid. Another graceful and lovely flower. This series is based on original photography of my personal orchids. Beautiful purples, yellows and white!
This morning I did the base photography and so far I like what is developing.  Can't wait to show you so stop back for a look next week.

Namaste,

Your Going to Miss This.... Michelle East - Germantown Artist

Just heard this song and it touched my heart today as a mom and as an individual....

Your Going To Miss This
Sung by Trace Adkins

If you haven't ever heard this song or haven't in a while, here is the you tube link are the lyrics below.

Ponder this..... where do our lives go... trying to get to the next phase... the next achievement...
why can't we stop and just live .... why can't we be content?

I am in the process of purging my home and creating a simple space...(as simple as three kids and two cats allows)..... Went into a store today and asked what can I live with out instead of what do I have to have.

Right now my daughter has 5 years remaining until college. My son eight. My youngest 12 years.
Seems like a long time before I have an empty nest... however, the empty nest of the babies and preschoolers has begun this year with the beginning of Kindergarden.  I am going to miss that time of
diapers, bottles, loveys, car seats, strollers, nap times, play dates, onesies, footed pjs, nursery rhymes, sesame street, cribs, high chairs, sticky faces, dirty hands, crafts, board books, tears, screams, and lots and lots of love.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZIBediEAcUQ

Your Going to Miss This.
She was staring out the window
Of their SUV
Complaining, saying,
I cant wait to turn 18
She said, "I'll make my own money"
And I'll make my own rules"
Mama put the car in park 
Out there in front of the school
And she kissed her head
And said 'I was just like you"

You're going to miss this
You're going to want this back
You're going to wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're going to miss this

Before she knows it
She's a brand new bride
In her one bedroom apartment
And her daddy stops by
He tells her "It's a nice place"
She says "It'll do for now"
Starts talking about babies
And buying a house
Daddy shakes his head
And says "Baby just slow down"



Cause
You're going to miss this
You're going to want this back
You're going to wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're going to miss this

Five years later
There's a plumber
Working on the water heater
Dogs barking, phones ringing
One kids crying, one kids screaming
She keeps apologizing
He says "They don't bother me.
I've got two babies of my own.
One's 36, one's 23.
It's hard to believe..."

But
You're going to miss this
You're going to want this back
You're going to wish these days
Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're going to miss this
You're going to miss this
Yeah you're going to miss this

Michelle East Pondering on Life and Art - Germantown, Memphis Tn Artist and Photographer

What have you done with your first 4 days of 2011? Has it been memorable already?  Have you celebrated your life, your accomplishments, your successes? If not, then you should. You are special and your life should be celebrated.

Over the last few days I have been diving into books and documentaries about the abstract expressionism movement that happened in art around the 1950's. New York is the setting with artists Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, and a female artist that I love, Joan Mitchell among many more as the players.

My focus has been on Mitchell and Rothko in particular this week.  I am in tune to the abstract as an art form and have begun work that is a big departure from my current style. Don't think it looks anything  like the beautiful works below but in my studio, alone with only me and my big grey persian cat, I am celebrating my new abstract expressionism exploration!

Rothko's large simple color blocks have me mesmerized while Mitchell's use of brush stroke and colors I find compelling.

http://www.joanmitchellfoundation.org





http://www.markrothko.com
Mark Rothko and I share the same birthday- 65 years apart. Maybe that is why I like his art..... :)

Cheers to you!
Till next time,

Happy New Year from Michelle East!

Happy 2011! Welcome to the new year and a fresh opportunity to reach for your dreams! 

I have been making my goals for the year, as so many of us do, and I discovered a new calendar titled The Sacred Journey.

I found it at http://www.pomegranate.com and have started journaling my goals, affirmations, my heart calling, my path of service and much more..... The sacred journey cards are a way to use symbolism to spark journaling ideas if you so desire.

This year I've set many goals for myself and a few of them are -

1. To make painting a consistent part of my life.
2. Develop a yoga practice.
3. Live a more minimalist life.


In reflection on 2010 it was a year full of surprises! At the start of last year I had planned to apply myself to study of digital art and painting. As the year unfolded I was given the opportunity to learn at WPPI, Las Vegas, NV in February.http://www.wppionline.com Spring brought me to New York City where I did an artist's exchange with my lovely friend and fellow artist Bernette Rudolph. http://www.BernetteRudolph.com   Then Summer came and I travelled to Montreal, Canada to spend a week studying with Joseph and Louise Simone. http://www.simoneportrait.com.  As if that was not amazing enough, I added anther workshop in October with Painter Master Camille Pryzwodek. http://www.Przewodek.com in Madison, Mississippi- Natchez Trace!  

Wow what a travel schedule! However, the finale for the year was even more fabulous with a final trip to Paradise Island, Bahamas! http://www.bahamas.com What a beautiful and relaxing place the Bahamas are! I would recommend a trip there to anyone looking for a place to get away from it all.  We stayed in a condo at Harborside Resorts at Atlantis. http://www.atlantis.com.  Atlantis was an adventure all of it's own with waterparks, sharks, aquarium and I even swam with dolphins while I was there!

 

We stayed in the colorful buildings in this picture. Atlantis is rising up in the distance!



Another view of Atlantis.



 
Our travel extended to Nassau and the Eleuthera Islands as well. While on Eleuthera/Harbour Island, we enjoyed the pink sand and driving golf carts!  There are very few cars on the island. It is so secluded that the only way to get there is by ferry or plane. A serene place with no worries mon!

The year ended quietly with the kids and a visit from my parents who came up from Florida. All the christmas festivities were perfect. I couldn't ask to be more blessed that I am right now.  


Living in the moment,