When Cindy Michaud returned to painting after a thirty-five year hiatus, just about everything had changed. Papers, products, palettes and mediums had all evolved while she was away. Her biggest surprise was that her own attitude towards painting had changed.

“Perfection is no longer my measuring stick,” she laughs, “one thing I have learned in 35 years is that “interesting” is far more valuable than “perfect.” With the help of mentor Sandy Johnson, Cindy began afresh and discovered the tactile pleasure of working with pastels. “It’s pure pigment,” the artist explains, “so it’s just me and the color, no brush or knife to get in the way.”

Today Cindy works primarily in pastels and oils, creating pieces that give her the opportunity to experiment while attempting to communicate. “Left to my own devices,” she confesses, “I would paint solely what I call “body language,” those non-verbal dialogues portrayed by the human figure. But there is a great deal to learn about line, design, composition and texture by painting a pear or a barn…so I tend to mix it up.”


A lot of her inspiration comes from traveling (Africa, Italy, Mexico and US cities) as well as from her retreat in the mountains of North Carolina. “But as much as I love to be outdoors I prefer not to paint en plein air,” she reveals. “I do the field studies, take photos and absorb the atmosphere. Then I head back to the studio to execute.”



Cindy and her husband have lived in the Melbourne, Florida area for thirty years. She paints in her studio in Melbourne Village and writes art related and human interest features for Space Coast Living Magazine. She is a member of the Strawbridge Art League, the Southeastern Pastel Society, the Art League of Daytona Beach, and the Student Art Guild of Melbourne. She regularly paints and shows with a group of local artists known as the Pieces of Eight.

Cindy regularly takes workshops with noted teachers in pastels and oils. Some of the most influential have included Doug Dawson, Sally Strand, Brook Allison, and Ann Templeton. In 2008 she will take courses taught by Margaret Dyer and Roseann Samuelson, and continues to study with artist Sandy Johnson of Melbourne, FL.

To see more of her work check out the Events section for the location of upcoming shows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
  “Call me greedy but I want to capture far more than the proverbial “moment in time” to which artists are fond of referring.  I want to capture the whole afternoon, bring back the entire year of feelings, or remind you of the depth of a relationship….When I portray something just right you will have more than a moment; you will have a personal place from which to relive something meaningful.  A good piece of art reveals a new tidbit every time one looks at it!” - C. Michaud