042: Michelle Pier

Michelle Pier is an experienced Guamanian artist who has hosted the Luna Festival of Creative Arts, the Holiday Craft Fair, and Creative Sessions workshops on the island for ten years.

Pier has spent the last 15 years as a full-time artist. Her work often features scenic and abstract pieces, created with acrylic on canvas, which she sells both as originals and prints. Her art practice extends to live demonstrations and speaking engagements, where she shares her creative process and endeavors with the public.

When it comes to defining art, Pier believes it is a deeply personal and subjective expression, varying from person to person. For her, visual art is about creating something to be viewed and experienced by others. She initially struggled with painting, as it didn’t come as naturally to her as drawing did. However, experimenting with abstract painting during a chaotic period in her life opened a new avenue of creativity, one that served as a form of meditation. This blend of abstraction and realism continues to shape her evolving style today.

Pier’s background, particularly growing up on Guam, has a profound impact on her work. Having spent much of her childhood in nature, her art is often a reflection of the island's landscapes, from the oceans to the jungles. She is inspired by the natural beauty of Guam and enjoys incorporating elements like latte stones into her pieces. Her process varies depending on whether she’s working on a commissioned piece or following her own creative instincts, but texture and metallic paints frequently appear in her abstract works.

Although Pier admires many people, she does not idolize anyone. Instead, she respects those who are kind, thoughtful, and passionate about their craft. She draws her inspiration from nature, photography, and the imagery she’s collected over the years. When she’s stuck on a piece, she takes a break or uses music, food, or refreshing activities to reignite her creativity. This flexible, self-disciplined approach allows her to balance her art, family, and personal well-being.

Pier’s advice to aspiring artists is simple yet profound: keep creating. She emphasizes the importance of self-compassion and allowing oneself to experiment without fear of failure. Art, she believes, is subjective, and what one person may dislike, another could cherish. By letting go of harsh self-criticism, she encourages artists to embrace the beauty of imperfection and to continue exploring their own unique paths.

“Allow yourself the grace to try new things, and to stumble along the way. Let it be messy, let it be ugly, just keep creating. ”

— Michelle Pier

To read Pier’s full interview, continue reading below. Also, check out her work on her Instagram (@creative_indeed). Thanks again!

Please introduce yourself and describe what you do.

My name is Michelle Pier, I was born and raised on Guam and have been creating art pretty much my whole life. I'm currently 39 years old, with 17 and 19 year old sons. I have been creating art and offering creative events and services as a full time career for 15 years now. I created and held events such as the Luna Festival of Creative Arts and the Holiday Craft Fairs at Jeff's Pirates Cove for about 8 years, as well as Creative Sessions workshops/classes, various speaking engagements and live art demonstrations. Currently, and consistently over the last 15 years, I paint mostly scenic and abstract works with acrylic on canvas, and sell my original artwork as well as prints.

How would you define art?

Defining art is about as subjective as art itself. The definition varies from person to person as well as institutions and society at large, and depends on the subject or genre, such as visual art or performance art. Personally, I define art as a form of human expression. If we are talking about visual art, then I would simply and broadly define it as something created to be viewed and experienced by others.

Why did you choose your art form?

I have always loved drawing, and when I eventually took on painting, it was a challenge. I had a hard time creating an image on canvas with paint, the way I could with a pen or pencil and sketchbook. I kept experimenting and eventually tried abstract painting, when my two kids were very little, as I didn't have much time or space to paint. Abstract art became a sort of meditation for me, a break from the pressure of trying to create focused, detailed drawings during a chaotic time in my life. This got me hooked on painting, and eventually some realism worked its way back into my artworks, and my style began to develop. It continues to do so with every painting I create to this day.

How does your background (education, culture, etc.) affect the artwork you make today?

Growing up on Guam, I always loved nature. My family was at the beach all the time, as my parents were into sailing, surfing, windsurfing, etc. I also enjoyed playing in the jungles around my house as a kid. Naturally, my artwork reflected a lot of these scenes and elements, and still does. Guam is my home, my blood, my culture. I love creating artwork that showcases Guam's scenery, including latte stones, oceans, jungles, etc.

Who do you idolize?

I don't idolize anyone, as it suggests obsessing over or worshipping someone. I don't put anyone on a pedestal, as I believe we are all human with our strengths and weaknesses. That said, I admire anyone willing to create and share their gifts with others. I respect those who are kind, thoughtful, honest, and considerate. I admire those who have made their passion into their career and lifestyle.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration mostly comes from nature. Other artworks, photography, and the world around us all contribute to the endless amount of imagery that has accumulated and runs through my mind's eye over the years.

What do you do when you're stuck on an artwork or lacking motivation or inspiration?

If I am unmotivated about creating an artwork, or in the middle of one, I typically walk away from it. If I am on a deadline or I know I need to create or continue an artwork, then I will do everything I can to motivate myself and feel good about it. This can happen in many ways. I can take a break and go do something fun first to re-energize myself, utilize music to improve my mood, refresh myself with a shower, good meal, and brighten up my studio space. Sometimes I'll look at my Pinterest collections of imagery that start to get the ideas flowing. It really just depends on the situation at the time, and why I'm feeling unmotivated or uninspired.

What do you like incorporating most into your art?

There is no one thing that I like incorporating most in my artwork. I like variety. As already mentioned, elements from nature are often a subject in my art.

What is something that you add to your art as your signature?

Depending on the particular artwork, I tend to use a lot of texture and metallic paints in my pieces, especially if abstract. You won't see much of either in some of my more realistic pieces though. It just depends, but many people do recognize my artworks that have the texture and metallic features.

Take us through your process for making art.

My process for creating a painting will depend if it is a commission piece or just something I want to paint. If it's a commission piece, typically someone will contact me and request for something, and I respond. It could be as vague as "something that reminds them of home, like the Guam sunsets," if they don't live on Guam anymore. It could be specific, based on a photo they have. The style I create it in will depend on past pieces of mine they like, whether they like the abstract pieces with a lot of texture, or something a little more on the realistic side. If I am just painting something that I want to paint, then I will probably already have an idea, or if I don't have an idea, I'll run through imagery in my mind, or photos. Once I decide, I pull out a canvas, I have all my acrylic paints ready, and just start painting. The style and how many sessions all depend on the piece I'm creating, it can vary widely. I decide it's finished when it feels finished.

What do you struggle with the most when making art?

There is often a point in the process of a painting (typically the halfway or more than halfway point), when I have put a certain amount of work into it, and it is not anywhere near what I want it to look like yet. That is the time when I sometimes have to walk away and then come back to it when I'm ready to give it more of my energy. My pieces are a layered process, and there's what I call the messy/ugly stage, where I have to create layers and elements that look and feel "elementary" at first. I don't like when people see a piece in that stage, because I want them to know it will look better later. Especially if it is a commission painting, and there is the pressure for it to look a specific way.

What role do artists have in society?

Similar to question #2, I would assume in this context you are referring to visual artists specifically. If so, the role of a visual artist in society is to create something that can be viewed and experienced by others. Sometimes artists have certain images in their mind (imagination), that others don't, and when they create a way for others to see it, it can spark the imagination or emotion of another person. They can feel something, or be inspired with an idea or concept. When you experience something with your senses, it becomes more "real." It can influence people's emotions and decisions. Someone might not be able to grasp a concept unless they can "see" it in front of them. For me personally, I am inspired by what I find beautiful in the world, and I enjoy recreating the things I see or imagine in my mind, for others to be able to see and enjoy as well. In this regard, artists can influence society (for better or worse) through imagery.

What characteristics do you think all artists share?

This feels too broad of a question for me. I don't think there is any one characteristic that ALL artists share, other than being a human experiencing life on earth. There are so many different types of artists, as there are over 8 billion people on earth. Some might say all artists share a love or appreciation of art. Even that is not true. Some artists just go through the motions, don't actually love art, and just create because they have to. I try not to generalize people, including artists.

What’s your favorite place in Guam?

My favorite place on Guam is probably Talofofo Bay. I grew up there, playing on the beach, boogie boarding or surfing, hanging out with friends and family, and it's close to my home. It feels like a second home to me, my playground, full of memories that I cherish. It's evolved so much over the years, and continues to evolve, but it holds a very special place in my heart. There are certain magical jungle spots or secluded white sand beaches that I love as well.

How has your artwork evolved over time?

My artwork has evolved from drawings, sketches and miscellaneous art experiments when I was younger, and then more into painting as an adult. My style in painting evolved from abstract, to some realism, to some combination of both, depending on the piece and what I feel like. The more I take on new challenges, such as murals, creating festival mascot sculptures, or painting on wedding dresses, the more different elements work their way into my style and artworks on canvas.

Why did you choose to become an artist?

I don't really feel like I "chose to be an artist." I have just always created some kind of art. It's what I enjoyed, it's what I did when I was bored. When I got back into painting as a single mom with 2 young kids, I wasn't selling my artworks at first, just creating and sharing. People started asking to purchase them, and it just grew from there. I enjoy creating art, so it was cool when I realized I could make money too. Eventually I was creating and selling art consistently, and just kept "choosing" to do so. I wanted to be my own boss, with my own business. I have an entrepreneurial spirit and am too stubborn to sit in someone else's office all day for a set amount of money. I invested my focus into learning the business side of things, and how to keep creating art as my career. I like the freedom that comes with deciding what I want to create and how I want to create it. This is how I operate most of my lifestyle. I have created a balance for myself where I get to decide on a Wednesday morning, that if I want to spend that whole day at the beach, I can. And then Thursday I can work on a painting, or take care of some computer or admin work, or run errands. I can work in the morning or at night if I choose to. I thrive on variety and flexibility, and have developed a certain amount of discipline and trust in myself to do so while being able to pay the bills. Of course, this includes balancing taking care of my kids. It was very difficult when they were younger, but they are practically adults now, so it is a different chapter for me these days.

Is your art geared towards a specific audience?

My art is not geared toward a specific audience, but people who love my work tend to also be people who love nature and Guam, and happen to like my style. I have met people from all walks of life who appreciate my artwork, and I am grateful to be able to create and share with the world in this way.

Do you have any tips for aspiring artists?

My advice to aspiring artists is simple: Just keep creating. Take good care of yourself, don't be so hard on yourself. Create what you enjoy creating, not what others tell you to create, or what you think you "should" create. Allow yourself the grace to try new things, and to stumble along the way. Let it be messy, let it be ugly, just keep creating. If you enjoy it, keep creating. If you create a piece and think it's horrible, it's okay. On to the next. I learned to try not to critique my work, but to just keep creating. There were pieces I created that I thought were ugly or just not good, that someone else would see, love it, and beg to purchase it. I realized if I kept judging it as ugly, then I was also judging their style preference as ugly. I just create the artworks, and there are some who will love it, and some who won't. That's good. That's what art is about. We all have different tastes, styles, and preferences. This is the beauty of the world we live in. Just keep creating.

041: Christel Aguon