Meet the Artist: Elsie Michielsens

Born in Belgium, Elsie Michielsens has been painting since the 1980’s. She studied and taught art in Brussels and after moving to the United States continued to create while adapting to a new life and culture; exploring new professional paths in scenic painting and mural work. After a 10-year hiatus from art she picked up her paint brush through art classes and became an active member of the Studio Art Farm collective in Mount Dora, Florida.

Her art has evolved from pencil drawings to mixed media, acrylics, and oils, with subjects ranging from lifeguard towers and personal series to her current focus on portraiture and nature. While often depicting the solitude of her subjects, her work is vibrant and full of color, capturing both emotion, beauty and quiet strength revealing the inner life of each moment. Combining a realistic style with occasional impressionistic touches, she captures the quiet intensity of human experience. Over the years, her art has evolved while remaining rooted in a deep sensitivity to light, color, and atmosphere.

The retrospective traces Elsie’s artistic journey from the 1980’s to the present, highlighting growth, experimentation, and enduring vision.