As an instructor, I believe that what you paint is not relevant; the goal is to relish the act of painting. This does place a demand on the viewer; not only to apprehend the subject, but to look further and perceive the hand of the artist. Perhaps this is where some of my ambiguity comes from; making a successful painting is hard work! But it is work I relish, and I hope that comes through to the viewer.

 
Biography
A transplanted Californian, Michele Frantz began her career as an artist after receiving a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Originally trained as an illustrator, her detailed pen and ink drawings quickly began appearing on posters, note cards and advertising pieces, as well as in private collections.

After moving to Virginia, Michele was hired to design and create signs, flyers, display art and posters for the public library system. The varied demands of this work encouraged her to explore new techniques and mediums, and she attended calligraphy, computer graphics and watercolor courses at Northern Virginia Community College, further refining her skills as both a graphic artist and as a fine artist.

After a stint processing payroll forms, in 1991 Michele decided to pursue art full-time, and created Arcadia Art Studio. Dividing her time between desktop publishing and painting, in 1993 she entered her first juried fine art show, where she placed third for her watercolor "Silk Flowers with Thai Bowl."

Encouraged by this success, Michele began increasingly to focus on fine art. She also decided to put her education and experience to use teaching others, and has gone on to become a popular teacher of adult artists, offering a variety of drawing, painting and composition classes at both beginning and intermediate levels. She currently teaches at several locations in the Prince William County area.

Michele continues to explore different modes of artistic expression, taking periodic painting classes as well as a number of weekend workshops. Although her first love is watercolor, Michele is accomplished in a variety of media; commissions have included an acrylic painting of an Irish castle, a pastel drawing of a view in Maine, and pen and ink drawings for a series of children’s stories. In addition to numerous other awards, she received Best in Watercolor at Waterford, Virginia's annual fine art show, and an honorable mention for a colored pencil drawing in the International Exhibition of Fine Art Miniatures in Maryland. In addition, Michele is active in the local arts community, being both a member and former president of both the Prince William Art Society and the Manassas Art Guild.

Exhibition highlights