Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Florence.
Hi Michelle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always been creative. In the late 70s and early 80s, I was painting bold graphic posters and drawing armadillo cartoons before I ever thought about being a “fine artist.” In the 90s, I created a colorful little world called “Whimzeeville”—playful, character-driven, and completely my own. Making things has never been optional for me. It’s not a hobby. It’s wiring.
Professionally, I built a career in graphic design in the corporate world. For decades, I’ve led branding, marketing materials, public exhibits, and visual storytelling projects. That foundation sharpened my eye for composition, typography, balance, and especially color. Color is my strength. Not just on canvas, but in life. I’m drawn to bold choices and the way they can shift a mood instantly.
I’ve always seen the art hiding in everything—old architecture, fading signs, the geometry of bridges and rooftops. Most people drive past them. I pull over. Sometimes I turn the car around. I notice the lines and patterns others overlook, and I amplify them. Being born and raised in Texas, that lens is colorful, playful, and unapologetically Texan.
Over time, my fine art evolved into what people recognize today: vibrant Texas landmarks, strong female characters, and work that feels both nostalgic and a little rebellious. But the thread has always been the same. I see between the lines. I see the art hiding in everything.
That’s how I got here. Years of creating. Refining. Trusting my own eye.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a straight line.
In the 90s, I was building real momentum. I was creating and selling painted furniture and contemporary folk art in Houston. My work was loud, joyful, and unapologetically colorful. I was developing Whimzeeville. I was being interviewed. It felt like things were opening up.
And then life intervened.
I became a full-time working mom and shifted fully into my corporate career. The art didn’t disappear, but production paused. For a long stretch, my creative voice got quieter while responsibilities got louder. That season wasn’t dramatic—it was just real.
When I returned to painting more seriously, I had to rebuild confidence. I had to ask myself if my voice still mattered. Would people connect with it? Was it too bold? Too graphic? Too different? Self-doubt is part of being an artist. So is rejection.
What I realized is this: painting and creating is my happy place. It’s where I process the world. It’s where I feel most myself. I had to let my voice out again. When I stopped trying to make the work safer and started leaning fully into what excites me—Obscure Texas, forgotten landmarks, old architecture, strong color—the spark came back.
It hasn’t been smooth. It’s been layered. Pauses. Growth. Return. But I’ve learned that your voice doesn’t disappear. It waits. And when you’re ready, it comes roaring back onto the canvas.
The full circle story of my 1995 coffee table finding its way home:
https://www.michelleflorence.com/blog/the-prodigal-table
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a Texas-based painter known for bold color, graphic line work, and storytelling rooted in place. I specialize in vibrant, character-driven work—from my Obscure Texas series highlighting forgotten landmarks and roadside gems, to strong female figures, to playful still lifes with a wink.
Color is my signature. My background in graphic design sharpened my sense of composition and contrast, so my paintings are structured, intentional, and visually punchy. I’m drawn to old architecture, geometric patterns, and the overlooked details most people pass by. If there’s a faded sign, a crooked building, or a twisted tree, I’m probably pulling over.
Over the years, my work has expanded beyond the canvas into public art installations, including painted traffic control boxes in Sugar Land and Richmond. Seeing my bold, graphic style scaled up in the community has been incredibly meaningful—it’s art people encounter in their everyday lives.
What I’m most proud of is staying true to my voice. I’ve had pauses in my creative journey and seasons of doubt, but I came back to the canvas fully myself—colorful, playful, and unapologetically Texan. I’m also proud of building a body of work that spans juried exhibitions, solo shows, and public art while maintaining a full-time design career.
What sets me apart is perspective. I see between the lines. I find beauty in what’s worn, quirky, and a little rebellious. My work isn’t chasing trends—it’s rooted in place, personality, and story.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was rebellious. Creative to the point of trouble.
I was always doodling, drawing, coloring—anything I could get my hands on. The box of 64 crayons was never enough. At about three years old, I decided my plain white bedroom walls were unacceptable and decided to enhance them with crayon. At the time, my parents did not appreciate my artistic vision.
I grew up around Houston – Bryan and Missouri City, Texas, and I loved our family road trips across Texas and the U.S. I spent hours in the backseat staring out the window, studying barns, gas stations, crooked fences, faded signs. I didn’t know it then, but I was developing my eye.
I’ve always been independent. I’ve always had opinions. I’ve always leaned toward bold color and strong lines. Subtle has never been my default setting.
Creativity runs in my family. My mom paints and designs jewelry. My dad was a mechanical engineer who also painted and carved wood figures. So, I grew up in a house where making things was normal.
Very creative. Very independent. Very Texan.
And still the person who will ask you to turn the car around because I saw something cool and interesting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michelleflorence.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_michelleflorence
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelleflorencestudio
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleflorenceart
Image Credits
MichelleFlorence-SugarLandBox.jpg photography by Mark Sykes Photography
