Michelle McCune, DVM, was born and raised in Illinois. Always observing wildlife, collecting rocks and natural things, and caring for waylorn creatures, it was obvious from the start that animals were in her future. Her love of animals carried on and she completed her veterinary degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1996. Prior to veterinary school, Michelle spent a summer completing wildlife rehabilitation internships in Maryland and Florida. This furthered her knowledge and interest in conservation. During veterinary school, Michelle was fortunate enough to receive a research grant to work with the Dr. Laurie Marker and the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia. Here she learned about global conservation and what it means to use problem based methods to be successful. As she continued on through her veterinary studies, Michelle often wondered how to best use her talents and knowledge to benefit conservation. This answer would come later.
Michelle and her husband, Tim, have two children and reside in Illinois where Michelle now practices veterinary medicine part-time at Best Friends Animal Hospital in Grayslake, Illinois. After the birth of their first child in 2000, Michelle's sister, Christa Lawrence, introduced her to oil painting. Using photos she had taken during her work in Namibia, she began to paint. After a couple years and a second child, Michelle met and art teacher named Lisa Vachta. She has painted with Lisa ever since and owes much knowledge and inspiration to her. Painting allowed Michelle to relive her experiences in Namibia and Zimbabwe and she soon discovered the world of wildlife art. She has found painting allows her to express her passion and support conservation efforts. Her veterinary background gives her in depth understanding of anatomy while sharing her love of animals. She continues to paint both in her studio at home and with Lisa once a week. She also still practices veterinary medicine, travels and attends workshops when she can.
The first workshop Michelle attended was with Terry Isaac and Susan Labourri and the Triple D Ranch in Kalispell, Montana. Many of Michelle's North American pieces are based from shoots with the Triple D animals. She enjoyed the experience so much that she took another two workshops with them. She was also fortunate to participate in two workshops with Jan Martin McGuire at Wolf Park in Indiana. Jan taught her many great techniques which Michelle has adapted to her oil paintings and Wolf Park provided great photography opportunities with the resident wolves. Jan, Terry and Susan are all acrylic painters and Michelle loves her oils so she sought out wildlife oil painters. That was when she discovered John Banovich. His oil paintings amazed and awed Michelle. Not only was his work inspirational but John is also an avid conservationist and his philosophies spoke to her. It was only natural that Michelle attended a workshop with John when the opportunity was presented in British Columbia in 2006. She also attended a workshop with John Seerey-Lester and his wife Suzi the following year. In the fall of 2009, Michelle travelled to Kenya with John Banovich and 11 other artists for an unforgettable artist's safari and workshop. That trip has inspired many paintings and John was very generous and welcomed the artists group from the Kenya trip to a workshop at his studio in Montana in the fall of 2009. She has also continued studying with Jan Martin McGuire and the Minnesota Wildlife Connection in the fall of 2010 and spring 2011.
Michelle became a member of the Artists for Consevation in 2008 and one of her pieces was selected for the 2008 show She has also shown her work at the International Exhibition of Animals in Art at Louisiana State University and had six pieces featured at the 2009 Artistry and Veterinary Medicine Show in Arizona. She continues to paint and submit to juried shows. Michelle continues to paint what truely inspires her in order to share her passion and knowledge of the natural world. She pledges a portion of all proceeds to various conservation groups including the Cheetah Conservation Fund, World Wildlife Fund, African Wildlife Foundation, and the Soysambu Conservancy in Kenya.
AWARDS:
Best of Show - 37th Annual Art in the Barn in Barrington, IL September 2011
Purchase Award - Mundelein Fine Arts Festival in Mundelein, IL September 2011 |
