Artist Michael Ann Bellajoux uses Martin County landscapes to spotlight conservation

Artist Michael Ann Bellajoux told the Creative Current podcast that she uses nature‑inspired oil paintings to help viewers appreciate and protect Martin County’s coastal and river landscapes. The interview was recorded at the Palm Room Gallery in Harbor Bay Plaza.

Bellajoux said her work grew from early training in printmaking and classical drawing into a focus on oil painting and plein‑air practice. "I try to capture with the light in my subjects that moment right before it goes away," Bellajoux said, describing her effort to bottle transient light and weather so viewers can recall memories of time spent outdoors.

The conservation theme in Bellajoux’s work traces in part to what she described as a severe algal‑bloom event when she and her husband moved to the area in 2014. "When we moved here in 2014, we came at just the point where the biggest, toxic runoff had come from Okeechobee. And really, literally, there were green waves just coming up on the beach," she said, citing work by local groups such as Florida Oceanographic and Captains for Clean Water and saying restoration efforts are showing signs of improvement.

Bellajoux described a mixed process for developing finished paintings: quick plein‑air sketches and photographs taken on site, followed by studio work that can involve multiple layers. She said modern oil formulations that include resins help paintings dry faster and preserve color: "I can have a painting dry within a week and then start another layer," she said.

Her technique blends representational subjects with expressive brushwork and surface texture. She told the host that she sometimes uses scraping and sanding tools to add texture and occasionally skews perspective in a more contemporary direction. Bellajoux is working on a new series of pool paintings that emphasize reflection and nostalgia.

Bellajoux described participation in juried exhibitions and membership in the Martin Artisans Guild as important parts of her practice: the guild, local galleries and community arts organizations provide critique, exhibition opportunities and peer support. She also cited local venues and parks she paints or sketches from, including Jonathan Dickinson State Park and Bahia State Park, and said she shows work downtown at Rare Earth Gallery.

Bellajoux encouraged aspiring artists to study under artists they admire and to practice regularly. She said workshops that intentionally stretch an artist’s approach helped her develop new techniques, and she plans to offer instruction locally in response to requests.

Recording host Alyce Rafa and guest Michael Ann Bellajoux traded examples of local parks, conservation groups, and gallery opportunities throughout the interview. The conversation highlighted Bellajoux’s dual aims of creating visually appealing work and using art as a means to deepen public appreciation for Martin County’s natural places.