Michelle Caitens is an Australian artist who grew up around the hinterland ranges and coastal beaches of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and now lives in Brisbane. She has travelled extensively throughout Europe, North America, Japan and around Australia which has greatly influenced her appreciation of the natural world, particularly the unique wildlife of Australia. Michelle has won numerous awards including three Best in Shows and is a committee member and editor of the Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society. She supports a number of conservation organisations including the Wildlife Preservation Society, Australian Orangutan Project, World Wildlife Fund, Save the Bilby Fund, Wombat Protection Society of Australia and Wildlife Warriors.
Painting in oils and pastels, Michelle enjoys a realistic style, focussing mainly on wildlife, nature and still life pieces, using light and shadows to create atmosphere. With her art, she hopes to connect with the viewer emotively, touching a memory or perhaps providing a glimpse into the beauty of wildlife and the natural world. ‘If, in some way, wildlife art can help create awareness of the amazing world in which we live, then we have achieved some success.’Michelle is married with three children, is a teacher and has illustrated music books, conducted school workshops and is involved in a school student mentoring program. For many years, she worked as a dance teacher and calligrapher. Michelle has also painted numerous murals in private homes, been involved in two school mural projects, one as Artist-in-Residence and enjoys painting portraits of people and pets.
‘Art is when you hear a knocking from your soul ... and you answer.’ Richés
Achievements & Awards:People’s Choice Award - Moreton Bay Art Awards, 20101st Prize - Bell Art Show, 2010People’s Choice Award- Bell Art Show, 20101st Prize, Pastel - Dakabin Art Show, 20102nd Prize - Dakabin Art Show, 20101st Prize Matt Campbell Memorial Award - Arts Alliance Artsfest, Pine Rivers, 20092nd Prize, Pastel - Arts Alliance Artsfest, Pine Rivers, 2009Champion and 3 x 1st Prize, - Dakabin Art Show, 20092nd Prize x 2, - Dakabin Art Show, 20091st Prize x 2, - Bell Art Show, 20092nd Prize, - Bell Art Show, 2009People’s Choice Award - Bell Art Show, 2009People’s Choice Award - Gold Rush Competition, Gympie, 2008Best in Show - Arts Alliance Artsfest, Pine Rivers, Brisbane, 2008First Prize, Pastel - Arts Alliance Artsfest, Pine Rivers, Brisbane, 2008Highly Commended, Encouragement Award - Kenilworth Arts Show, 2008Highly Commended, Still Life - Kenilworth Arts Show, 2008Best in Show- Matthew Flinders Art Prize, Bribie Island, 2008First Prize,Oil Section - Matthew Flinders Art Prize, Bribie Island, 2008Highly Commended - Nudgee College Art Show, 2008Finalist - Pine Rivers Art Awards, 20081st Prize, Still Life - Bell Art Show, 20082nd Prize, Pastel - Bell Art Show, 2008Highly Commended - Bell Art Show, 2008People’s Choice Award - Bell Art Show, 2008Packing Room Prize - Bell Art Show, 2008Feature Article and Demonstration Article - Artist’s Palette Magazine, 2008Finalist - Stanthorpe Art Prize, 2008Special Encouragement Award - Qld Wildlife Art Society, Logan Art Gallery, 20071st Prize, Pastel Section - Gold Rush Competition, Gympie, 2007People’s Choice Award - Gold Rush Competition, Gympie, 2007Finalist - Lexus Mortimore Art Prize, Dubbo Indoors Gallery, 2007Highly Commended - Kenilworth Arts Show, 2007Bronze Award, Watercolour - Wildlife Art @ CSIRO Discovery Centre, Canberra, 2007Finalist - Australian Artist Magazine Competition, 2007People’s Choice Award, 2nd - Qld Wildlife Artists Exhibition, Broadbeach, 20072nd Prize- Royal Qld Show, Brisbane - Open Class, Native Australian Wildlife, 2006
Michelle Caitens - Australian Wildlife Artist specialising in realistic wildlife, historic homes, pet portraits, portraits, fine art, Australian wildlife, animals, bilby, endangered, conservation, nature and still life painting, wildlife, Australian, nature, painting, artist, still life, koala, kookaburra, flowers, old lamp, kangaroo, dolphin, Brisbane, Old Museum, Venice, terns, tigers, banksia, QWASI
