Cecile Michel is a pencil artist based in Paynesville.
After two decades in retail and following the expected working path laid for her growing up, Cecile finally returned to her passion for art and started drawing everyday objects to improve her skills.
After her first solo exhibition in Ballarat in 2022, she made the move to East Gippsland where the peaceful life and beauty of nature only made her more inspired to draw.
Mainly drawing stills, you might have come across some of her ‘Nostalgia’ collection of items from the previous decades.
She has exhibited at the Foundry in Bairnsdale, The West Gippsland Arts Centre in Warragul, and has been part of the past two East Gippsland Winter Festivals.
Cecile has also won the “People’s Choice” prize at the Lindenow Art Show, and “Best 2D work” at the Bruthen Mixed Bag Art Show.
“When I first came to Paynesville, I drew a couple of portraits and found them really challenging. I wasn’t happy with the result and decided that if I was going to draw meaningful portraits, I really needed to refine my skills,” she said.
“The ‘Nostalgia’ series helped me improve my technique and get very strong at contrasts and tones, which are key to realism drawing. Equipped with this knowledge, I have been drawing new portraits and exploring different emotions carried by peoples’ faces.”
Cecile still occasionally draws objects in between big projects as a way to keep a mental balance.
“Sometimes, you can see a lot of hurt and pain in a portrait.
And because you spend so many hours looking at tiny details, you feel connected to the person and end up feeling their story and their hurt in your own body. Drawing objects from the past helps me reset and feel content,” she said.
Cecile will be showing her new portrait collection at the East Gippsland Art Gallery at the end of 2026.
