Reaching out and scratching the hide of Sudan – the last male northern white rhinoceros – at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya in 2016, profoundly encapsulates Dr. Michelle McCune’s mission as an artist. Her work centers on animals in their wild habitats, highlighting their lives and challenges.
Currently based in Northern California, Michelle grew up in the Midwest. She developed a strong connection to animals early in life, finding comfort and a sense of belonging in their presence. Her passion for animals led her to a career in veterinary medicine. She completed her veterinary degree in 1996 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During her studies, she had no idea how her experiences would shape her and lead her to a second career as an artist!
While in veterinary school, Michelle was fortunate enough to travel to Namibia in 1993 and work with the Cheetah Conservation Fund. This trip ignited a passion in her for conservation efforts and the flora and fauna of the African continent. Although she didn’t start painting until 2001, her first subjects were from this trip, and wildlife became the ongoing theme of her work.
Initially, she did not see how her art could help her fulfill the drive to help conservation efforts. She was busy working as a small animal veterinarian and raising a family, but felt something was missing. Upon discovering Wildlife Art Magazine (no longer in publication), Michelle learned the impact art has on conservation efforts. She found workshops with wildlife artists and attended as many as possible to learn about techniques and philosophies, as well as to strengthen her basic art foundations. She studied under the late Terry Isaac, Susan Labouri, the late John Seerey-Lester, Jan Martin McGuire, Greg Beecham, Dustin Van Wechel, and her two greatest influences, John Banovich and Guy Combes. It was the words of John Banovich in Wildlife Art magazine that touched her heart and gave her the courage to pursue her art as a vehicle to support her passion for conservation. In his words, “There is no great nobility in creating an incredible painting… If I am going to be remembered, it is as a person who caused people to think and realize how important wildlife is.”
All of her work is based on experiences from her travels and direct encounters with animals. She takes photographs that are used as anchors to her memories, then returns home to her studio to recreate a moment in time using oil paints on canvas. Her paintings provide the viewer
with a bridge into the world of marvelous animals portrayed, prompting reflection on personal experiences and a connection to nature. The viewer is given the freedom to live with the animals, in their world, even if only imagined. Evoking feelings often forgotten in the rush of everyday life, Dr. McCune’s paintings invite appreciation of wildlife and their habitats and encourage awareness for future generations.
Dr. McCune continues her dedication to animals, domestic and wild. She paints in her home studio 3-4 days per week, practices veterinary medicine part-time in California, volunteers at Ano Nuevo State Park to educate guests about northern elephant seals, and of course, travels as much as possible. She spends as much time outdoors as she can, observing and photographing wildlife. She continues to attend workshops and expand her knowledge. In 2026, she will teach her first workshop in South Africa, an intimate conservation and art-based safari.
Dr. McCune’s work has received many awards and been internationally recognized. She is a Signature Member of Artists for Conservation.