Chrisman, Michelle

Michelle Chrisman is a Contemporary Colorist & Modernist Oil Painter of Figures & Landscapes, painting from life, with impasto bravura...
“I am a plein air painter.  I also paint the figure from life, in the environment.  I believe it is important to be well grounded in the principals of Impressionism, but like Ballet, once you know “the rules,” what is really exciting about painting is the excitement of the visual poem before you & the excitement of the medium of oil paint- “seeing” the abstract, and connecting with the visceral excitement of how your subject makes you feel.  Then capturing it- “Alla Prima!”  THIS is painting!”

ARTIST’S STATEMENT: I love the visual beauty of New Mexico & the West.  I am a Contemporary Colorist & Modernist.  What excites me most about painting is “seeing” the abstract shapes & patterns in the visual world.  I paint  mostly “en plein air,” painting the figure & landscape from life.  
I am an Impressionist & Expressionist.  I strive to remain grounded in the principals of “how the visual world works,” while at the same time, responding emotionally (and viscerally) to the beauty of the visual world that I am capturing in paint! 

The medium of oil paint is also very important to me- letting the medium speak, and not being afraid of the calligraphy of impasto painting.