Key Points
- Michelle Angelique is an award-winning artist from the Blue Mountains in NSW.
- Michelle tried her hand at landscapes, but found herself drawn to portraiture.
- Her most personal work are self-portraits which feature Australian and Filipino elements.
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Emosyon at koneksyon, sinasalamin sa obra ng isang live wedding painter
SBS Filipino
25/06/202409:40
"All of us yearn for connection and, art can help us tell our stories. I know this so well...because art...it helps me tell mine. It changed my life."
For portraitist Michelle Angelique, the work of an artist is all about connecting with a subject and conveying emotion through paint.
Michelle Angelique specialises in portraits. Credit: Michelle Angelique
Art is connection
After developing tendonitis from working in a mailroom, Michelle Angelique decided to quit and concentrate on doing what she loved - art.
"I receive art commissions because I would post my work on Facebook. I did digital art, then after my mum signed us up for an acrylic painting class, it just stuck.
"In 2014, one of my friends asked to do portraits of her children; and from there, I experimented with watercolour portraits and oil."
Michelle shared that the human experience inspired here work.
"I studied psychology after high school because emotions just always interested me."
According to psychologist Dr Joan Cusack Handler, psychology and emotion has everything to do with art.
Emotion and expression are what drew Michelle to drawing people.
I was always drawn to people when it comes to creating art. If you drew someone during their special day or if you drew a loved one who has passed away...it's sentimental and meaningful.Michelle Angelique, Artist
"A portrait is not a flat thing. There's always an emotion behind it. It's like capturing their soul in a way. It's kind of strange trying to do that with technique in mind; but what I try to do is see who the person is.
"When I try to understand the person, it's also like going within me and searching my own emotions so I could better understand them."
Live painting
Varying emotions are ever-present in weddings, compelling Michelle to take part in the celebrations.
"I fell into it after a woman emailed me about this new trend in America called 'live wedding painting'.
"She wanted me to do a live painting of her wedding in the Hunter Valley. She wanted a portrait with the giant tree with the field in the background, as well as their dog walking down the aisle."
She explained that her process typically begins with her arriving at the venue an hour before and painting the backdrop. She would add people into the painting as they arrived.
There was pressure to do well, of course. People also hover you as you work, so you want to do well.Michelle Angelique, Artist
"It was a joyful day and the couple wanted something unique and special to capture it. The bride cried when she saw the painting."
Michelle Angelique with clients, presenting a live wedding painting. Credit: Supplied
Who I am and what I feel
While majority of her work revolves around the faces of other people, Michelle also does special self-portraits that not only convey what she feels, but where she's from.
Michelle Angelique also delves into self-portraiture. Credit: Michelle Angelique
I grew up in the inner west. People saw me as the short Asian girl, but I did see myself as very Australian. And when I visit the Philippines, I'm looked at as foreigner because I don't know the language.Michelle Angelique, Artist
"As I get older though, I feel that I want to explore my Filipino roots more, especially that I have a child now. I want my child to know that part of my heritage as well."
Artist Michelle Angelique with her son, Harry Credit: Michelle Angelique
"I wanted to include references to the Igorot textile fabric. I'm covered in the fabric and behind me, you can see parts of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
"Having both Australian and Filipino elements in my work is a recurring theme for me now. I'm not just from one culture."
Part of a living museum
Aside from 'Red Flags', Michelle shared that her favourite painting is one that she sold in 2020.
"I always seem to sell my favourite ones," she laughed.
"One of them is 'There is still beauty left in this world'. It was inspired by a testimonial by one of my clients. He had bought one of my self-portraits and said that my work often gives him pause to reflect on how much beauty is left in the world.
"The pandemic was a hard time for everyone, so I wanted to paint something colourful and joyful.
"A lovely women actually purchased the painting and told me that it's currently hanging in her home.
The painting is in a heritage-listed house in the Blue Mountains. She said that in her will, the painting will eventually be left in the home as part of a living museum.Michelle Angelique, Artist
Art saved me
While her art has certainly given her a certain prominence in the scene, Michelle shared that the most important thing it ever gave her was safety.
"Art taught me resilience. It taught me hard work. It gave me joy.
"I'm such a different person from when I started. I went through a depression and I had anxiety when I was younger. The more I did art, the more I found myself. I was able to connect with people and learn their stories.
"Art saved me."
