Michelle Waldele was born in Portland Oregon in 1964 and has lived in the Pacific Northwest ever since. She began studying art at an early age, enrolling in every visual art course available through the local public schools which were fortunately fairly extensive. She received a Bachelors of Fine Art from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks with a Major in Drawing and Minor in Metals.
After raising her two children, Michelle then resumed her training of traditional academic techniques at the Gage Academy in Seattle, where she studied with such exceptional artists as John Morra, Anthony Ryder, Juliette Aristides, and Geoffrey Laurence. After working as a Scrimshaw artist for ten years and an illustrator for five, Michelle decided to commit to a full time fine art career as an oil painter and has been supremely happy with that decision.
Michelle is a passionate painter of still life in the classical realist tradition. With a affinity for collecting antique toys she loves painting objects she feels a strong connection to. In addition to her painting, Michelle teaches art to both children and adults. She lives and paints in Bothell with her husband Ken. Her work can be found in private collections around the U.S.