Meet Ellen Michel
“I am mostly fascinated with the idea of the painter being an instrument, whose work reveals something universal, something that touches what it is to be human.”
Meet Ellen
Ellen Michel , celebrated Heidelberg Artist, Teacher, Art Therapist , Mentor and Shaman devotes her amazing breadth of skills and knowledge to the quest of promoting the human right to access self expression. Ellen’s career spans 40 years of the Art Scene in Melbourne from Community Arts to Private Commissions and Public Lectures. Her practice as an Artist and her study of Anthropology, Psychology, Art Therapy, Shamanism and Practices of Meditative States brings expert knowledge and experience to the Course.
Combining Art & Education Since 1979
“My training as a tonal realist painter, specializing in oil over 35 years, has been a wonderful foundation from which to develop my painting technique and style. With 5 solo exhibitions and numerous awards for painting, my body of work continues to thrive mainly because I love combining teaching and painting. The combination of practice and teaching refreshes my view of myself as student and teacher. My aim is to pass-I-on (passion) something of the pain and the ecstatic joy I experience in an attempt to make a painting. I encourage all who have the desire to paint, to give it a go. It is a human right to create, and not a ‘gift’ limited to a few.
I am mostly fascinated with the idea of the painter being an instrument, whose work reveals something universal, something that touches what it is to be human. My work explores many techniques as I approach; the canvas openly, with an automatic response. I imagine when I paint, being in the airless Caves of Lascaux, deep in the earth drawing, painting images for the fecundity of life, paying homage to the human endeavour to find meaning. In a sense I explore, the painter/artist as psycho-pomp, ritual maker/shaman and conduit to spiritual dimensions.”
Raw Nature, Beautiful Ruins
Beautiful ruins,
Iron and bricks,
Gone the families.
Reused junk for art,
Reclaiming from the ground,
From it’s tortured soul.
The ruined homestead,
Our band arrives,
Will now inhabit those walls.
Homestead, hello dear friend,
Don’t know you,
Aim for the familiar.
—Ellen Michel , Pilbara Dreaming Collection,
—24 July 2010
See more of Ellen’s Poetry here
My Mission
My mission is to inspire, encourage, awaken the artmaker inside every student I meet.
Education
1992 – Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, Anthropology and Art History Majors, Cinema Studies, Contemporary Feminist Thought, Minors. La Trobe University, Bundoora.
1999 – Diploma of Art Therapy, Ikon Institute of Victoria, Melbourne.
1979 -1985 Studied under Frank Gill, Mitcham, Melbourne. (tonal realist & colourist).
1972 – 1974 Studied under Alan Martin, Eltham, Melbourne ( A tonal impressionist student of the celebrated Max Meldrum).
The many faces of Ellen Michel – artmaker, art teacher, art therapist, traveller, poet…
Exhibitions, Art Projects, Workshops, Talks and Art Performances
2011 – Our Changing State, performance art with Heidelberg Primary School, an Artist in Schools Program.
2011 – Mosaic Seat, Alice Downunder in the land of Wonder. collaboration with students, Doncaster Primary School.
2010 – Heights Primary School – ten panels, Let Medicine be your Food and Food your Mediciine.
2010 – Rosanna Golf Links Primary. Breezeway Mural -Healthy Living Health Life.
2009 – 2015 Art Therapist, Able Australia, facilitating yearly exhibition.
2009 – Exploring the Farmyard and Vegetable Garden 15m painted panel, Rosanna Golf Links Primary School
2009 – Neighbourhood Community House Project, Nine Painted Panels, for the Collingwood Justice Centre, Vic.
2008 – Hands on for Healing Community Mosaic wall 2.5x3m, Austin/Repatriation Hospitals, Heidelberg Vic.
2008-10 – Commission by Austin Repatriation Hospital,Heidelberg, Vic. for 44 oil paintings
2008 – One and Many – a collaborative collage, Olympic Adult
Education,HeidelbergHeights,Vic.
2008 – Wild Wonder Wisdom, Panels, Austalian flora, fauna, water land sea, Doncaster Primary School, Doncaster,Vic
2007 – In the Flow – facade mural North Yarra Community Health Centre, Collingwood
2006 – Body, Head Feet and Hands, Painted Tile Project, Doncaster Primary School, Vic.
2006 – Meditation Garden, Rosanna Fire Station Community House Work for the Dole Project.
2004- 2005 – Wall of the Imagination and Sculpture, mosaic and ferro cement render Watsonia Neighbourhood House.
2005 – Serpents Head path Mia Mia Gallery, Westerfolds Park, Templestowe. Greencore project.
2004-2005 – Mosaic Panels, Doncaster Primary School, Vic.
2004 – Exhibition Doctors of Northcote, ‘Finding the Heart Beat of Northcote’
2003 – Painting Workshop for Outback Women, Dirranbandi, Queensland.
2002 – Doncaster Primary School Arts after school program. Art Therapy workshop for Heritage Australia, Canberra.
2002 – Watsonia Neighbourhood House, Art Therapy workshop. Children’s Art Holiday Program ‘Weaving the Web’, a sculptural performance.
2002 –Demonstration of painting Doncaster, Ringwood, Brighton, Heidelberg Art Societies
2001 – Royal Women’s Hospital ‘Reclaiming the art of Dying’ – ‘Women’s Day 2000’, Dianella Community Health, Broadmeadows.
2000 Exhibition, Doing Art Studio,‘Serpent’s Mouth Open’, giant serpent canvas and paint. ‘Looking at a coffin. Help! ‘ installation Open Studio Banyule City Council.
1999 – Established with Rosemary Mangiamele Art and Soul Coffins and Ceremonies to offer a creative/healing approach to death and dying.
1999 – Australian Film and Television School Art work and direction.
1998 – Exhibition of painting, ‘On the road to Rhodes’, Fitzroy Gallery, Fitzroy.
1992 – ‘Art Adventure’ workshop funded by Northcote Council.
1991 – 1999 – T.P.I. Return Service Art Group.
1990 – Hamilton Art Show First Prize.
1990 – Wimmera Art Show, Best Painting.
1990 – Bright Art Show ‘Miniature Prize.
1991 – Warragul Rotary Art Show Prize.
1992 – Mornington Rotary Art Show Prize
1989 – Artists in Schools Program. Grades 4,5 & 6 Four remote Primary schools in North Eastern Victoria.
1989 – Wangaratta Art Show,Grand Prize, Art Gallery Council Collection
1990 – Wangaratta Art Show Grand Prize, Art Gallery Council Collection
1989 – Exhibition of Painting, ‘Veritas Galleria’ Eldorado , Victoria.
1988 – Exhibition of painting ‘Olive Lodge’, Oxley, Victoria
1987 – Australian Rural Prize, Wangaratta Collection
1986 – Australian Rural Prize, Wangaratta Collection
1979 – 1991 – Teaching The Centre for Continuing Education, Wangaratta. The Pathway, Adult Education Yarrawonga. Bright Community Centre, Benalla Artist Guild, Wangaratta Art Society North Ringwood and Park Orchards Community centres.
Address
206 Cape Street
Heidelberg VIC 3084
Australia
Email Us
ellen@ellenmichelartschool.com.au
Call Us
+61 (0) 418 504 811