Michelle F Mitchell | Sword Fern Studios

@swordfernstudios.bsky.social

1830 Followers 309 Following

PNW Artist | Painting, illustration, foraging, meandering, outside stuff. 🛒🍄‍🟫🌱 https://swordfernstudios.company.site 🛒🦋🌼 https://swordfernstudios.etsy.com

Please ignore my abused houseplant in the background.
Overhead photo looking down on a wood table with a greeting card. I was able to get some fresh cards printed out! Photoshop didn't crash, printer didn't smear the ink, the proofing went well first try. Sounds simple, right? Especially if you've done a task a thousand times before. I swear, if a printer or cricut machine is involved in your process you know what I'm talking about. Epson updates its software every other day. Now I feel like I can design some new cards. If you have any prints you'd like as a card, Imk!
Sent an original off to its new home & got another order out today. Fingers crossed we get a wee bit of snow in the next day or two!
Grey cat sitting right on top of my charcoal drawing in progress. Lookin back at me as he enjoys the sun. Caption: Studio Assistant 1. "Helping" me "cure" my quick sketch. See what happens when I walk away?! I was going to add a fern frond and share it to main. Hopefully he didn't cure it too much. 🥴 #art #artist #sketch #charcoalart #wip #cats #catsofbluesky
Taking a stab at pressing some ferns. I was pruning some of the old fronds back and decided to keep some of the less haggard trimmings to repurpose. Went over lightly with an iron. Now smooshing them under a heavy acrylic block with a textbook on top. Fingeys crossed they turn out!
Sneak peek of a painting I’ll be sending off to Nanny Goat Gallery very soon. Can’t wait to share the finished version! It’s inspired by the very region the in-person naturalist courses will be held. Good timing, universe! 😉
Visual Description: A colorful painting featuring a detailed bright electric blue/purple wildflower against a soft blurred vernal wetland backdrop of greens and golden yellows. Inspired by basalt cliffs, native plants, and meadows in the Catherine Creek area of Washington. Caption: For today’s #ArtAdventCalendar I’d like to share a mini painting inspired by the Columbia River Gorge. ‘Camassia Quamash’ A perennial herb, native to western N. America in large areas of southern Canada & the northwestern United States. A staple food to First Nations people, & pollinators love it!
My porcini & ferns painting for both #artadventcalendar & #forestfriday Detailed still life painting of a porcini mushroom framed in by two ferns pointing inward to the bolete, at the foot of the bolete is a wood sorrel leaf, chanterelle mushrooms, and mossy stones. The rounded composition creates a dramatic visual effect against the black background.
Art Opening & Holiday Party Antler & Talon Galleries 2714 NE Alberta St. Portland, OR Dec. 19th from 5-8 pm. Two new exhibitions with a DJ, drinks, & live flash tattoos by Jennifer Parks & Meg Adamson. Painting description: Detailed painting of PNW Long toed salamanders, mushrooms, and lichens with a black background on a hexagon shaped panel.
Close-up view of a vibrant colored western toad. The toad, with its intricate details and realistic texture, is depicted sitting on a bed of bright yellow-green moss against a light blue sky. The artwork is framed by a white border. The painting showcases a detailed rendering of the toad's skin, highlighting its unique markings and textures. #ArtAdventCalendar
An acrylic painting on a hexagon panel with a black background. A view of a tiny world on an orb of moss. In the middle are two long toed salamanders, surrounded by mushrooms, lichens, and a redwood sorrel at the top of the orb. #ArtAdventCalendar.