<![CDATA[Michelle Van Berkom Fine Art                             - Michelle's Blog]]>Sun, 20 May 2012 01:04:24 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Ars Poetica at Collective Visions]]>Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:32:08 -0800http://michellevanberkom.com/2/post/2012/02/ars-poetica-at-collective-visions.htmlWalking With Snowshoes Picture
Walking With Snowshoes, mixed media, (c) 2012
Walking with Snowshoes
(c) by Joanne Pramhus

Overnight it snowed.
The pines stand high
As any steeple, putting a hole
Through the morning sky.
A cloud opens, and it snows.
The poem falls
To paper.  It left what is seen here,
Its only tracks.

Here is my new mixed media painting, "Walking With Snowshoes".  The painting was inspired by a poem of the same titlle, by Bainbridge Island poet Joanne Pramhus. 
For the month of March, CVG artists will display their visual interpretations of poetry submitted from local poets. Join us at Collective Visions on Sunday, March 25, at 2 pm when poets selected poems will read their work and artists will discuss their interpretations.  For more information, visit www.CollectiveVisions.com.



]]><![CDATA[Installation: \"The Thirty Second Vacation\"]]>Sun, 02 Oct 2011 17:54:29 -0800http://michellevanberkom.com/2/post/2011/10/installation-the-thirty-second-vacation.htmlClick here to edit.Picture
This afternoon Brian and installed the eleven paintings in my October show at Collective Visions Gallery in downtown Bremerton.  The installation took us about 3 hours, including loading and unloading all the paintings.

The show opens Friday, October 7, for the First Friday Artwalk in downtown Bremerton, and runs through October 29.  My work will also be featured at the Olympic College Art Gallery for the October artwalk.
Picture
]]><![CDATA["The Thirty Second Vacation Calendar" is now available ]]>Sun, 02 Oct 2011 17:44:24 -0800http://michellevanberkom.com/2/post/2011/10/the-thirty-second-vacation-calendar-is-now-available.htmlMy 2012 calendar, featuring images from the Thirty Second Vacation collection and more, is now available at Collective Visions and online at Lulu.com. 
Support independent publishing: Buy this calendar on Lulu.
]]><![CDATA[Beach Studio]]>Sat, 24 Sep 2011 07:33:54 -0800http://michellevanberkom.com/2/post/2011/09/beach-studio.htmlPicture
When I go on vacation, I love to bring a watercolor sketchbook and set up an impromptu studio.  Here's a photo of my beach studio on Oahu.   I discovered that Hawaiian sand had art-enhancing qualities when incorporated into my watercolors!
]]><![CDATA[Thirty Second Vacation and Health]]>Sat, 24 Sep 2011 07:27:07 -0800http://michellevanberkom.com/2/post/2011/09/thirty-second-vacation-and-health.htmlABC news recently featured a story on staying healthy at work. Taking attention away from work even for a short time relieves mental fatigue.  A 2008 study that found that people improved their working memory span after viewing pictures from nature.     Attached is a link to the report:
. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ways-stay-healthy-work/story?id=14363408#1

If you'd like to read Dr. Berman's complete study, here is the link.
http://www.umich.edu/~jlabpsyc/pdf/2008_2.pdf

]]><![CDATA[The Thirty Second Vacation]]>Wed, 17 Aug 2011 19:08:42 -0800http://michellevanberkom.com/2/post/2011/08/the-thirty-second-vacation.htmlEvery time I look at a painting that I love, it's like taking a thirty second vacation.  I relax.  My blood pressure drops.  I forget the pressing problems of the day and I'm transported, if only for thirty seconds.  Sometimes that's all I have--just thirty seconds to decompress!  My October show, the Thirty Second Vacation, is a collection of scenes from vacations.  I invite the viewer to join me in a brief escape to a soothing locale.  I hope you will join me and the other artists of Collective Visions for a reception at the First Friday Art Walk, October 7, from 5-9 pm.  All art is 10% off during the reception.

That's what I love about painting.   I've been painting for so many years that I enter an altered state the moment I enter my studio.  My vacation lies just through the door...]]><![CDATA[Welcome to my new site!]]>Sun, 14 Aug 2011 11:06:54 -0800http://michellevanberkom.com/2/post/2011/08/first-post.htmlI've updated my site with this year's new work for my upcoming show, "The Thirty Second Vacation," as well as some favorites on the gallery page.]]>