Meet Michelle Lyon | Artist & Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Lyon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Giving up isn’t an option for me. Even when it appears as if the painting, the drawing, or whatever the project is that I’m trying to produce isn’t working out, I don’t quit. Instead, I set it down and walk away. I put it on pause and work on something different or I read a book, or play a game. And I know if I keep going, I will get it eventually, and I’ll learn a lot in the process. But if I quit? I am only doing myself a disservice. I’m not learning and growing because I’m no longer trying.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What excites me the most is the process. From conception to working with the materials and producing the final product, I love every moment of it. Even when I’m struggling and frustrated, I still love it. Working on art allows me to see things in a different way. Though I’m just starting my professional journey, it has so far been a path of learning, growing, and developing. It hasn’t always been easy, but if it were easy, it wouldn’t be nearly as satisfying when the creation comes to life. I’ve learned you have to be patient with yourself and willing to make mistakes. It’s only by making mistakes that we learn; not just the process and skills of the practice of art, but also about ourselves. My brand is new, and my story just beginning. But it makes me so happy to create and share.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love nature. In fact, nature in many forms is very often the subject of my paintings and drawings. If my best friend were visiting the area and had never visited the desert before, we would have to do all the classic nature desert dwelling activities. The wonder of the Grand Canyon would top that list, as well as some hiking. We would explore the Desert Botanical Garden and see the beauty of Sedona. I’d love to take a drive up north, to showcase the diversity that Arizona offers from one end of the state to the other. And nothing in the world beats a desert sunrise, except maybe the desert sunset, so a view of those from atop a high mountain peak would be a must as well.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people in my life that deserve a shoutout. The support and encouragement from my parents, and my closest friends, and the criticism, direction, and lessons from teachers have spurred me forward in my journey.

Website: https://mlyonart.wixsite.com/mlyon

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlyonart323/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-l-44aa2b185

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MLyonArt1

Other: https://www.redbubble.com/people/MLyonArt/explore