Born to be Wild

By Michelle Caitens

Medium: Oil on canvas

Size: 120cm by 180cm

DESCRIPTION


About the Artist

A Brief History

One of my favourite aspects of creating artwork is the significance and depth of meaning that it can hold for people, bringing to mind parallels in their own lives. This, combined with my love for the natural world and the role art can play in the telling of its story, influence my painting. As a ballet dancer and teacher, perhaps I am also inspired by the precision and drama of dance. I’m drawn to strong contrasts of light and shadow and the intricacy of detail. This intensity can direct attention to the elements of a painting much like stage lighting can in a dramatic performance. 

Selected Exhibitions

2020
Lethbridge 20000 Finalists Exhibition - Highly Commended, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane

2019
Clayton Utz Art Award - HIghly Commended, Brisbane

2018
Lethbridge 10000 Finalists Exhibition - Highly Commended, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
Rotary Art Spectacular, Brisbane 
‘Sketch for Survival’ auction and touring exhibition, 7 venues UK and USA as part of the ‘Explorers against Extinction’ campaign 
'Cheap Fakes' Deep Space album cover

2017
Rotary Art Spectacular, Brisbane
'Water Sculpture' exhibition - Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
'Creative Artist' magazine cover

2016
'Wildscapes' exhibition, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
'Summer Showcase' exhibition, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane


2015
'Watermarks' exhibition, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
'Artist Showcase' exhibition, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane


2014
'Artist Showcase' exhibition, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
'Australia Wild', QLD Wildlife Artists’ Society, Brisbane
Lethbridge 10000 Finalists Exhibition, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane
Arts Alliance Arts Festival, Brisbane


2013
Artists for Conservation, online finalist and catalogue publication, Canada
Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society 30th Anniversary Exhibition, Beaudesert Art Gallery
Arts Alliance Arts Festival, Brisbane
Matthew Flinders Art Prize, Bribie Island Art Gallery, Qld
‘Wonders of Nature’, Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society, Brisbane


2012
‘Connections – The Soul of Place’, Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery, Cleveland
Artists for Conservation, online finalist and catalogue publication, Canada
Arts Alliance Arts Festival, Brisbane
Rotary Art Spectacular, Brisbane
Wildlife Art Society Exhibition, Grampians, Victoria
‘Wild Arrivals’, Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society, Richard Randall Gallery, Brisbane
International Wildlife, Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society, Logan Art Gallery


2011
National Wombat Conference, Albury, NSW
Still Life Art Exhibition, Pine Rivers Art Gallery
Rotary Art Spectacular, Brisbane
Wildlife Warriors Australia Zoo, Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society exhibition, Beerwah, Qld
Unsung Heroes Portrait Prize, Sunshine Coast, Qld
Faber-Castell 250th Anniversary Exhibition, Richard Randall Gallery, Brisbane
Matthew Flinders Art Prize, Bribie Island Art Gallery, Qld
‘Wildlife in Art’, Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society, Richard Randall Gallery, Brisbane
Arts Alliance Arts Festival, Brisbane
Nudgee College Art Show, Brisbane
Wildlife Art Society Exhibition, Grampians, Victoria


2010
Rotary Art Spectacular, Brisbane
Moreton Bay Art Awards
Maleny Art Awards
Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society, Logan Art Gallery, Brisbane
Matthew Flinders Art Prize, Bribie Island Art Gallery, Qld
Wildlife Art Society Exhibition, Grampians, Victoria
Arts Alliance Arts Festival, Brisbane
Kenilworth Arts Festival, Kenilworth
‘Bloomin’ Marvellous’, Pine Rivers Art Gallery
Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society, Richard Randall Gallery, Brisbane
Australian Orangutan Project Art Exhibition, Brisbane
Nudgee College Art Show, Brisbane


2009
Rotary Art Spectacular, Brisbane
Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society, Pine Rivers Art Gallery, Brisbane
Maleny Art Awards
Matthew Flinders Art Prize, Bribie Island Art Gallery, Qld
Kenilworth Arts Festival, Kenilworth
Arts Alliance Arts Festival, Brisbane
Caldera Art, Murwillumbah, NSW
Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society, Richard Randall Gallery, Brisbane
‘Time to Shine’, Pine Rivers Art Gallery
Nudgee College Art Show, Brisbane


2008
Moreton Bay Art Awards
Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society, Broadbeach, Gold Coast
Tweed Naturally Art Awards, NSW
Matthew Flinders Art Prize, Bribie Island Art Gallery, Qld
Arts Alliance Arts Festival, Brisbane
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Frog Art Exhibition, Gold Coast
Nudgee College Art Show, Brisbane
Kenilworth Arts Festival, Kenilworth
Warwick Art Prize, Warwick
Wildlife Art @Discovery, Canberra


2007
Noosa Art Awards, Noosa Art Gallery
Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society exhibition, Brisbane
Pine Rivers Art Awards
Nudgee College Art Show, Brisbane
St Bernard’s Art Exhibition, Gold Coast
Matthew Flinders Art Prize, Bribie Island Art Gallery, Qld
Kenilworth Arts Festival, Kenilworth
Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society, Logan Art Gallery, Brisbane
Wildlife Art @Discovery, Canberra
Stanthorpe Art Prize, Stanthorpe Art Gallery
Mortimore Art Prize, NSW

Awards

2018
Brisbane Digital Images Prize - Lethbridge 10000, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane

2015
Medal of Excellence - Artists for Conservation, Vancouver
Environmental Statement Award - Artists for Conservation, Vancouver


2014
Skill Award - Lethbridge 10000, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane


2013
Second Prize & HC - Australian Flora and Fauna, Royal Qld Show, Brisbane
People’s Choice - Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society, Richard Randall Gallery


2012
First Prize - Small Works, Queensland Wildlife Artists’ Society, Logan Art Gallery


2011
First Prize - Matt Campbell Award - Arts Alliance, Pine Rivers
People’s Choice - Australia Zoo ‘Wild Art for Wild Life’


2010
Front Cover Feature - Wildscape Magazine, UK
First Prize - Wildscape Magazine Editor’s Choice, UK
First Prize - Matt Campbell Award - Arts Alliance, Pine Rivers, 2010
Best in Show - Australian Orangutan Project Art Exhibition, 2010
People’s Choice Award - Moreton Bay Art Awards, 2010
First Prize & People’s Choice - Bell Art Show, 2010


2009
First Prize - Matt Campbell Award - Arts Alliance, Pine Rivers, 2009
Second Prize - Pastel - Arts Alliance Artsfest, Pine Rivers, 2009
Champion - Dakabin Art Show, 2009
First Prize & People’s Choice - Bell Art Show, 2009


2008
People’s Choice Award - Gold Rush Competition, Gympie, 2008
Best in Show - Arts Alliance Artsfest, Pine Rivers, Brisbane, 2008
Best in Show - Matthew Flinders Art Prize, Bribie Island, 2008
First Prize - Oil, Matthew Flinders Art Prize, Bribie Island, 2008
First Prize - Pastel - Arts Alliance Artsfest, Pine Rivers, Brisbane, 2008
First Prize - Still Life - Bell Art Show, 2008


2007
First Prize - Pastel, Gold Rush Competition, Gympie, 2007
People’s Choice Award - Gold Rush Competition, Gympie, 2007
Finalist - Mortimore Art Prize, NSW


2006
Second Prize - Australian Flora and Fauna, Royal Qld Show, 2006

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