Meet Michelle

Michelle hiking in Anacortes, Washington.
Michelle taking photos of birds with her telephoto lens.
Michelle taking a photograph of a mushroom on the forest floor.

Hello, I’m Michelle, the artist behind Trail Skipper Studio in Oregon City, Oregon.

As a former restoration ecologist, I’ve spent years observing and appreciating the natural world. These days, I spend much of my time outdoors with my camera. Birds are a favorite subject, but fungi, plants, and other small discoveries can stop me in my tracks, too.

My artwork begin with those encounters. Through photography, digital illustration, and printmaking, I capture what caught my attention—the bird’s expression, an unexpected color, or a quiet moment I want to remember.

Contact Me

My Process

Black ink rolled out onto an acrylic board prior to linocut printing.
A Red-winged Blackbird perched on a post.
A basic digital sketch of a Red-winged Blackbird, used to transfer the bird image onto a linocut block.

My work begins outdoors, with my own photographs of wildlife and the little details that catch my eye.

Back in my studio, I combine those photographs with digital illustration and handmade printmaking textures. I especially enjoy creating colorful gel plate monoprints, layering their unexpected patterns and colors into my artwork.

I also explore traditional printmaking techniques, including hand-carved linocuts.

Each finished piece brings together my love of photography, nature, and the creative process.

Newly hand-printed Red-winged Blackbird prints laid out on a rack to dry.
A greeting card featuring a Red-winged Blackbird linocut print attached to the front.

Golden-Crowned
Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow perched on an apple tree in Michelle's yard.
Golden-crowned Sparrow perched on an apple tree in Michelle's yard.

A sweet backyard visitor during the depths of winter. I was inspired by the Golden-crowned Sparrow’s quiet resilience and the bold streak of yellow atop its head. These charming birds bring life and warmth to an otherwise dreary winter landscape.

Golden-crowned Sparrow linocut print.
Golden-crowned Sparrow linocut print.
Golden-crowned Sparrow linocut print., hand-tinted with watercolor paint.
Golden-crowned Sparrow linocut print., hand-tinted with watercolor paint.

Western Bluebird

I photographed this Western Bluebird near Stone Creek Golf Course in Oregon City. Her blue wings and warm peach-colored breast inspired this linocut, which I later hand-tinted with watercolor.

A Western Bluebird perched on a wooden post near Stone Creek Golf Course in Oregon City.
A black and white linocut print of a Western Bluebird.
A linocut print of a Western Bluebird, hand-tinted with watercolor.

A Barn Owl Named Twig

A Barn Owl.

I met Twig at a PERCH Wildlife Education event in Oregon City. His heart-shaped face and beautifully patterned feathers made him a wonderful subject to photograph.

For this design, I layered my photograph with a hand-pulled monoprint, letting its colors and textures become part of Twig’s portrait.

A Barn Owl Named Twig greeting card artwork, featuring a barn owl's heart-shaped face and patterned feathers layered with a softly textured monotype.
A Barn Owl Named Twig greeting card artwork, featuring a barn owl's heart-shaped face and patterned feathers layered with a softly textured monotype.
Abstract gel plate monotype print in muted blue and cream.
Abstract gel plate monotype print in muted blue and cream.
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