Hello Daily Painters of Pennsylvania by Michelle Montes

Well, I have finally found the time to start my blog. I have included a link to my website. http://www.michellemontes.artspan.com/

I have been an artist since I can remember. My mother said I could draw as soon as I could pick up a pencil. I don't recall this, but I do remember always wanting to draw. I'm sure many of the artists here have similar stories. After joining the Army for four years, and working as a flight Attendant for six years, I decided to put myself through school and study art at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville TN. After receiving my BFA, I then started studies towards the MFA at the University of Tulsa. I traveled to Italy on their study abroad program for a summer semester, then when I returned I transferred to Marywood University in Scranton PA where I finished my MFA. I then started teaching as an adjunct faculty members with Penn State and Marywood. During the time that I was teaching, I started conversing with Savoir Faire and briefly worked as one of their demonstrating artist, and then briefly with the Gamblin company. Shortly after I was asked by an art material distributor to work for them full time. After about 3 1/2 years, I came back to my first love - Savoir Faire.

I am currently working for Savoir Faire - importer of fine art materials. We import products like Sennelier, Fabriano, Cretacolor, Lascoux and Artfix to name a few. I love working for them, because I really love all the products and I use them all myself. Yesterday I was working on a prototype material. It is a new product that we may be introducing this year at the National Art Materials Association trade show. It is a linen material (Artfix) and I was using our Sennelier oils. I love our oils! To know that I am using the same paint that many of my hero's from the Impressionist era were using just excites me. I am very picky about my products, and Sennelier has always been known for exceptional quality. I was even using some unconventional colors that many artists usually don't use. I have added the image, it is a 5x7 20 minute sketch. I plan to do several of these in a day, so I will keep them posted. Well, I have to say that this was fun, and I look forward to posting here more often, and viewing all the talented artists with this group. Thank you for having me here! Until next time - Happy Painting to all, and I wish you all a wonderful New Year!