Michele Dodds is an artist, storyteller and illustrator.
Michele Dodds' recent books include: Dew, the Ewe Who Drew and Grandma Maggie, Mel and Dew. There are also Legacy Books to share your life story with your friends and family. Journals, Notebooks and Doodlebook also available. More books are in the works for 2025. Michele is a follower of Jesus, writer of sheep stories, a mom to a beautiful daughter, a wife to a wonderful husband and an artist of whimsical worlds and characters. From a young age I drew from my imagination to escape reality and help me keep still. As an adult I worked many practical jobs because I did not believe I could survive as an artist. Eventually I went back to school and received a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Illinois State University. Then I worked as an Art Director and created content to promote companies and individuals for many years. When our daughter was a baby I began illustrating during her nap time. I enjoyed working on the book, Gillie, the Dream Big Guinea Pig. I also enjoyed painting and other artistic projects. In 2023 I began writing my own stories based on real people and real events that I gathered from personal diaries, family journals, memories and stories I heard as a child. My stories use sheep as characters. I chose sheep because they are fun to draw and because Jesus used sheep in his stories. Sheep are vulnerable, they feel safer in groups, they get scared easily and they often do dumb things. That sounds a lot like us! It sure sounds like me. Sheep desperately need a shepherd to lead them. Without a shepherd sheep would not survive. We desperately need the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ in our life. My main character is Dew, the Ewe who Drew and she draws and tells the stories. My hope is that each story will encourage the reader to fall in love with the Good Shepherd, stay close to Him and follow Him because He knows what is best for us.
More Bio: Michele (Wood) Dodds graduated with an M.F.A. from Illinois State University in 1995 and has a background as an Art Director, digital artist, video editor and motion graphics. Michele began illustrating books in 2016. Michele is currently illustrating her own books about sheep stories she writes based on true stories of people she knows. She also works on Gillie Guinea Pig books. Michele’s work has been featured in the December 2019 issue of Parenting OC magazine and the July 2019 issue of South County magazine. She also helped create the plush Gillie that won the Brass Ring award, competing against Disney, Hong Kong and Sea World, Austrailia in 2019. Michele has experience teaching 2D Design and Introduction to Art at Illinois State University and has taught Drawing and Painting at Vanguard University. You can view some of her work on this website: www.MicheleDodds.com.
Michele's M.F.A.(Master of Fine Art) work at Illinois State University focused on design, color theory, architecture, printmaking, felt, and art history. Upon graduation she worked as an Art Director focusing on video storytelling, using computer programs, such as Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, 3D Max and Final Cut Pro.
Currently - 2024 Writing and Illustrating books, Dew, the Ewe Who Drew and Grandma Maggie, Mel and Dew and other books soon to be release .
2023 - Illustrated GILLIE GUINEA PIG
2017-2019 - Designed the look of the characters for Gillie Guinea Pig Books for Carolyn Franks. Illustrated the book, The tale of Gillie Guinea Pig, written by Carolyn Franks. Helped create, Gillie Guinea Pig plush toy with Carolyn Franks- who won the Brass Ring Award in 2018.
2016 - Illustrated a book about a llama from Zoomars. Painting murals and large backdrops for plays.
2012 - 2016: Created a large Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory play backdrop. Created personal paintings while taking care of our preschool daughter.
Jan 2007 - 2012: Independent Contractor for Architectural Cathode Lighting, Huntington Park, CA. Drafting, Web Designer, and Graphics.
Spring 2008 - Teaching - Adjunct Faculty at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa CA, Teaching Drawing and Painting.
May 2003-Dec 2006: Freelance Painter, Motion Graphics and FCP Editor:
Projects: Motion Graphics for companies such as, Architectural Cathode Lighting and Taco Bell for The Dreaming Tree, editing for Magellan Media, Pardee Homes - Extreme Makeover Home Edition documentary and Editing Systems Inc., Created DVD menu's and graphics.
2003 - Club 33 Disneyland
November 1998-April 2003: Digital Storyteller, Motion Graphics, 3D Max, Video Editing, For Narratus, Fullerton, CA. Over 4 years experience as Art Director in digital story telling, editing, still and motion graphics. Created 3D animations, web sites, interactive CD ROMs and DVDs, created visuals for clients such as the The Pacific Symphony, Fullerton Civic Light Opera, Hyperion, as well as corporate video content for a variety of speakers and preformance videos for musicians and concerts.
1991-1995: Teaching Assistance in Fiber Art. while working on my M.F.A degree, as well as one semester teaching Art to non-art majors at Illinois State University.
Education (Michele Wood) my maiden name.
1998 Adobe After Effects - California State Long Beach
1998 Photoshop - American Film Institute, Hollywood, CA
1995 M.F.A. in Textiles, Printmaking, Wood - Illinois State University
1993 M.S. in Art - Illinois State University
1991 B.S. in Art - Illinois State University
1983 B.A. Lincoln Christian University
Cell Phone: (714) 686-8625
Home Phone: (714) 871-5528
Location: Fullerton, California, USA
See image to the right for email information.
© 2024 Michele G. Dodds
All Rights Reserved.
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