Artist Michelle Arnold Paine
Michelle Arnold Paine is a contemporary painter with a unique freshness in her approach to representational painting. Her subjects of landscape, figure, and architecture draw on medieval texts, art historical images and observation of the nature and the built environment. Throughout Michelle Arnold Paine’s painting career she has sought to serve arts communities through connecting people and opportunities and relationships. Her art’s Christian themes have led to collaborating with and serving churches, colleges and non-profit organizations exploring the convergence of art and Christian faith.
Most recently, Michelle has worked to build NCVA (Network of Christians of Visual Arts) as Co-founder. NCVA seeks to create connections, expand opportunities and deepen faith among Christ-seeking artists through online small groups and the occasional in person gathering. Previously, Michelle served as a staff member for Christians in Visual Arts (CIVA). During her three years as Community Ambassador at CIVA, she coordinated the Heart to Heart program and nurtured artists by developing online programming for members.
During the three years she spent in Italy, she found her vocation as an artist and also a connection to history and tradition through the Catholic Church. After her return, she received a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and went on to earn an MFA from University of New Hampshire.
Her work has been published in many publications which seek to explore elements of the divine: Evangelism and Culture, CT (Christianity Today), Ruminate Magazine, Edge of Faith, CIVA’s SEENJournal, Dappled Things, Worship Leader, Imaginatio et Ratio and Intruding Upon the Timeless. She has participated in podcasts, panels and artist lectures focusing on the intersection of art and faith as well as being an artist in residence at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Toledo, OH, Valparaiso University Chapel at Valparaiso University Indiana, North Shore Chapel, MA and at the Center for Faith and Inquiry at Gordon College, MA.
In addition to private collections across the U.S., her paintings can be found in the collection of the Valparaiso University Chapel, Rivier University, Gordon College, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Toledo.
She lives in Ohio with her husband and two daughters.
Photo Credits: Katherine McClure Photography