Michelle Bolmat

“The essence of light in all its magic and drama is my artistic journey.”

Award winning artist Michelle Bolmat has over forty years’ experience in the visual arts. After initially undertaking studies in Fine Art, Michelle went on to complete a further ten-year period of study which included tonal realism, abstract and colourist techniques. She is an exhibiting member of the Victorian Artists Society, Plenty Valley Arts and Kinglake Ranges Arts.

Michelle began her early artistic career working as a ‘contract artist’, a type of commercial art which requires working within very strict parameters with the artwork produced specifically reflecting the needs of the client. Strict adherence to requirements and absolute accuracy in the reproduction of form, colour and design were required.

After completing an airbrush course in the earlier part of her career, her work expanded to include airbrushing artwork on horse floats, car tyre covers, tents, T-shirts, billboard inserts and commercial signage. Most commissions were accepted except motor vehicle detailing because of the toxic paints used in this industry. Other commissions were more routine, including portraits, children, pets, home landscapes, etc.

Michelle moved on from this structural, analytical art to a more personal form of art with works reflecting the ‘heart and soul’ of her ideas, not just commercial productions.

Winner of over forty awards in the past ten years, her work was featured at the prestigious Convent Gallery in Daylesford in 2008. Several of her works have been purchased by the City of Whittlesea and remain on display in council buildings throughout the shire.

In January 2009 Michelle completed a 12 X 2.5-meter mural for the Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House as part of the ‘Images of Age’ project.

In November 2009 her mixed media painting, ‘The Day Australia Cried’ won the ‘Most Innovative Use of Materials’ award at the City of Whittlesea’s Contemporary Art Show, ‘My Changing Landscape’. This painting and ‘In Memory of a Friend’ was subsequently purchased by the City of Whittlesea. Both works were created in response to the February 2009 bushfires and went on tour throughout the shire together with other selected artworks.

In May 2012 Michelle was a featured artist in the ‘Sites to be Seen’ Street Exhibition – bringing personal art to public places.

This distinctive street exhibition was launched in Thomastown on Saturday, 19 May. Whittlesea Council installed 70 artworks, involving some 37 artists, temporarily on pavements, walls, planters and in unexpected places in the High Street precinct between Spring and Pleasant streets.

As a self-guided walking trail of artwork along High Street, the exhibition encouraged visitors to walk through the area and take in the amazing ‘sites to be seen’.

In 2013 Michelle completed a mural for the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, Royal Exhibition and Carlton Gardens.

Michelle’s art portfolio includes portraiture, landscapes and seascapes, floral and equine art plus illustrative work. Her preferred mediums are oil, pastel and acrylic. She enjoys exploring the Kinglake district, endeavouring to capture the light and atmosphere of the Kinglake Ranges in her ‘Plein Air’ paintings.

Michelle’s work is represented in private collections throughout Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.