There is no fear on my canvas—only magic.
I’m Michelle Johnson Fairchild—artist, author, teacher, and lifelong believer in the magic that happens when creativity is given room to run wild.
For 24 years, I taught high school art, encouraging young artists to find their voices while quietly putting my own painting aside. Then life changed in ways I never expected, and I found my way back to the canvas.
That journey began during one of the darkest chapters of my life—a time when both my personal and artistic voices were nearly silenced. In rebuilding my life, I rediscovered something I had almost forgotten: my own voice.
And I found a lot of it on canvas.
Painting became one of the ways I learned to conquer fear—to be brave, take chances, make a mess, use ALL the color, and refuse to play small. I began a nonprofit called Be a Voice, speaking and advocating for those living with domestic violence who felt too afraid or oppressed to speak for themselves. Over time, Be a Voice became more than the name of an organization. It became part of the way I wanted to live—and part of the way I wanted to create.
Today, I want my art to have a voice, too.
A voice of hope. Joy. Courage. Color. Soul. And magic.
I love BIG canvases, BOLD color, expressive brushwork, and art that refuses to whisper. Whether I’m painting a beloved face, a soulful animal, or a larger-than-life portrait, I’m always searching for that spark that makes the subject them. I don’t just want to capture a likeness. I want to capture spirit, personality, joy and soul—something you can feel.
Maybe that’s why I paint the way I do now. I spent too much of my life knowing what it felt like to be afraid and silenced. There is no fear on my canvas. There is courage there. There is freedom. There is celebration. And there is an unapologetic amount of color.
My love of portraiture has also taken me into the wonderfully colorful world of conventions. I love painting recognizable faces, meeting some of the people who have inspired my portraits, and collecting their autographs on my original artwork. There’s something pretty magical about watching someone come face-to-face with my version of them for the first time!
I’ve also had the privilege of sharing my story and my art with audiences across the country as a speaker and advocate. I’m an author, too, and storytelling—whether through paint, words, a classroom, or a microphone—is part of the creative life I love.
At the heart of everything I create is connection. I want you to look at one of my paintings and feel something. Maybe it makes you smile. Maybe it brings back a memory. Maybe you recognize someone you love. Maybe it reminds you of your own courage. Or maybe it simply adds a little more joy, color, soul, and magic to your corner of the world.
My voice was once something someone tried to take from me. Today, I use it—and my art—to be a voice for hope and joy.
Because life is far too precious for beige walls, timid dreams, or playing small.
Be bold. Be colorful. Be courageous. And always leave a little room for magic.