Michele Bodnar Sabin

Influenced by illustrations in classic children's books, Michele has always had a passion for interpreting these fictions into whimsical and striking works of art. Authors such as Rumer Godden, the Grimm brothers, C.S Lewis, and Beatrix Potter enlivened her imagination at an early age and instilled in her the creative desire to interpret the stories she loved into paintings. Her mother works as a children's librarian, so there was no shortage of books with fanciful places and characters to arouse her artistic inclination. Not only did the stories and pictures in these books make an impression on her creatively, but the act of reading aloud and finding amusement and knowledge in those simple words would spark a love of books which she has carried into adulthood.

Art has always been a facet of Michele'e life. She pursued it in formal education and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Texas in 1995. Before deciding to make painting her life's work, Michele worked in the beauty business for such industry greats as Aveda Corporation and Neiman Marcus. Her art career began with face painting at children's parties and evolved into painting murals and furniture for friends and clients who appreciated her distinctive talent. She has continued to refine her brush skills by continuous study of new techniques and incorporation of new media into her work.

While Michele's most prolific work includes children-themed pieces, she is an incredibly adaptable artist and has many sources of inspiration. Living in the Lakewood area of Dallas , Texas near White Rock Lake , Michele is surrounded by natural beauty and the constant companionship of her two dogs, Machimus and Mops (a boxer and pug respectively), who love to take walks with her and her beloved husband Paul.