Meet Michelle McCosh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle McCosh.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
What do talcum powder and volcanos have in common? They both erupt into a gorgeous mess and so do I. Anyone who knows me, knows my love for getting messy.

I love to dabble with media and experiment with anything in my reach. As a child, I would mix water, food coloring and talcum powder to make eyeshadow. As I grew, I learned to knit, sewed my own clothes and started my own successful catering company before the age of 16. Later, I moved to the US and entered the corporate world as a recruiter hiring IT professionals.

I began my current path in 1995 following a trip to Costa Rica. I went to view the Arenal Volcano, only to discover it was hidden by clouds. Returning home, I decided to put my photos in an album and when I realized I didn’t have any pictures of the volcano, I searched the internet to see what I could find. Lo and behold, I stumbled across the world of scrapbooking and rubber stamping. It was my introduction to this new world and I haven’t looked back since!

I gave up the corporate life in 2001 to reengage with my creative side. In 2008, I purchased Everything Scrapbook & Stamps located in Lake Worth. It is here in my store that is filled with supplies that I continue to follow my passion by teaching and inspiring others in mixed media, art journaling and cutting edges techniques. Everything Scrapbook & Stamps has become a meeting place for likeminded individuals and those seeking an escape into the joy of creating. I bring in industry celebrities from around the world who offer creative workshops. I take pride in having the latest and greatest products and mixed media materials for my customers to experience. I am lucky to have traveled extensively worldwide and love to collect unusual items to incorporate into my art. Each year I teach classes on a cruise ship and just recently returned from my latest adventure in Cuba. In 2019 I will be co-teaching at a mixed media artistic retreat in Europe

Please tell us about your art.
I like to take random objects and challenge myself to make something out of it. I am a tactile artist and love texture. Pushing the boundaries of what a product is supposed to do and make it react or work in a different way is something that excites me.

I love to art journal. Art Journaling is a visual diary that you use to express yourself and is a creative outlet for everyone. You do not have to have any experience, you do not need to be able to draw, you do not need to be creative in any way in order to do this. Art Journaling has no rules and you learn to love and embrace imperfection. People are multi-faceted and art journaling allows them to explore different aspects of their styles and personality.

Art Journaling is my favorite workshop to teach, to see the reaction from people when they thought they had not one ounce of creativity make something that is so personal and inspirational to them.

I also love to work on assemblage and three dimensional pieces which use found objects that have a story, and I will often include a photo. I like to dabble with textiles, metals, stones, leaves and other natural materials. A fresh take using vintage items such as wine crates, old tea cups, chicken wire, rusty metal and buttons gives me a thrill. It allows me to reflect on what it was to someone else, to document my artistic journey and explore the media. The common thread in my personal art is texture and dimension.

Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
I think that creating art today is more important than ever. Global and local events definitely affect my art, my stories are interwoven with the people who come to the store to buy supplies or take workshops. The world is so volatile and art has the power to change your mood, your perspective and it grounds and connects you. People need a creative outlet to allow them to cope and de-stress. My store is safe, it is creative, it is a community, it is fun. People come together to connect to each other, make something and leave the stress of the world and life behind, and then sometimes, it is just a fun night out with friends!

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I tend to my store most days and so a lot of my art is displayed throughout the store to help inspire people and encourage them to create. I have been commissioned to make pieces which are currently in Private Collections. I also have work that is exhibited at trade shows by product manufacturers. I have a line of stamps and kits that allow people to DIY their own projects.

We are the last store of our kind on the eastern seaboard of Florida from Key West to Jacksonville. I would invite everyone to come join our creative community.

Contact Info:

• Address: 4095 State Road 7, Suite Q, Lake Worth, Fl 33449
• Website: www.everythingscrapbook.com
• Phone: 5614325201
• Email: michelle@everythingscrapbook.com
• Instagram: everythingscrapbookandstamps
• Facebook: ESSinFlorida
• Twitter: newatESS
• Other: Pinterest: artatESS

Image Credit:
Michelle McCosh

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