A local artist going places was encouraged by her art teacher

Michelle Snively-Jefferies grew up in Boston, Ont. and from a very young age knew she was nurturing a talent deep within.  Snively-Jefferies stated: “My God given talent is, I believe, inherited from my family; my dad, who seems to explain most every story with a quick sketch, and an uncle, who works with many different mediums from wood to iron to paint.”

Snively-Jefferies talked about her Grade 6 art teacher Marion Anderson at Boston Public School. Anderson taught art class and was the principal of the school. This encouraging teacher told her class one day: “You can draw. You can paint. You are stating your very own perception of the subject. It is right for you."  These words would stick with Snively-Jefferies and would give her confidence to continue to enhance her artistic talent. With much enthusiasm, the artist now enjoys spending time painting with her mentor, Anderson, who is now 91 years old.

With acrylics being her preferred medium, Snively-Jefferies got started painting about seven years ago when her husband bought her a tabletop easel, a canvas with acrylic paints and said, “Go for it.” Snively-Jefferies got going right away. Not wanting to experiment on that canvas, she started painting on pieces of old barn board. People who saw her work told her she should start selling her pieces. Things have taken off for her ever since.

Snively-Jefferies has a very supportive family and is very thankful for her husband and two children, who are also artistically talented. With a passion for painting, she will set up her easel anywhere, indoors or out and explained that, "Even during a recent house renovation she was able to create art.” There are plans in the works for a studio/gallery on the family's property and Snively-Jefferies is very excited to see that project turn into reality.

Influenced by the works of Georgia O’Keefe and Andrew Wyeth, Snively-Jefferies says she can,"see beauty in ordinary things." Snively-Jefferies went on to say that she, "wants people to see what she sees.” A day doesn’t go by without her studying and learning something new about art. Snively-Jefferies teaches private lessons and she says, “ I also learn from preparing for my students’ individual needs."

Over the years, Snively-Jefferies is grateful for having the opportunity to be involved in many shows and exhibitions, one being the Norfolk Studio Tour that runs annually in the fall. She also belongs to an organization called Norfolk ArtsCo, and explains that, "She receives a bi-monthly newsletter that keeps her in tune to all types of arts going on in the area."

Snively-Jefferies paints in the moment striving to stimulate the onlooker's senses and emotions. Her paintings now hang in the homes of private collectors across Canada and abroad:  in Britain, Europe and as far away as Saudi Arabia. Like her paintings, she too has been on a journey of self-discovery and is “ Looking forward to where this journey will take her.”

When asked for words of wisdom for anyone who is interested in painting Snively-Jefferies says, “Give yourself permission to fail and also to succeed and go for it."

Snively-Jefferies art can be viewed on her website http://www.jefferies.myexpose.com/.

Picture featured in this blog is a piece Snively-Jefferies calls "Pink Lily."