Earth, the “blue planet” is unique in the known universe for its abundance of and its ability to maintain liquid water. We live on one of the strangest, most delicate places in the universe. Every chemical reaction in our bodies and on our planet depends somewhat on the presence of water. (paraphrasing Neil Shubin)
I have been thinking about water—about glaciers, about floods and hurricanes, about storm surges and sea walls, and its consequences, displaced populations and destroyed farmlands.
I have been looking at water and down into water, wading on rocks and studying reflections. The result is the “Underwater” series, my most recent works.

Micki Colbeck is an oil painter from Strafford, Vermont who has exhibited widely over the last decade in the Upper Valley. She has had four paintings juried into AVA, and one into the LAC, was given the People’s Choice award at Chandler’s regional exhibit, and won “Best of Show” at Justin Morrill Homestead Gallery in the Gardens exhibit. She was chosen to be part of the AVA curated Pomponoosuc Mills exhibit.

Micki graduated from Webster University with a BA in Studio Art and Masters of Teaching/Integrated Arts. For twenty years she taught painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, and graphic arts in Missouri public schools, both rural and city schools, elementary through secondary. Moving to Vermont in 1997 she worked as a farm hand, teacher, and community coordinator for the Full Moon Cafe. In 2001 she built a studio and began painting every day. She has exhibited widely throughout New England. Her paintings are found in collections nearby and in France, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, and Croatia. A few years ago she took up bas-relief sculptures, mainly in an effort to clean up the studio but also as a way of honoring three family elders who had recently passed on. Her work may be seen in Lyme, NH at Long River Studios, at her studio in Strafford, and at the Barnard Inn in Barnard, VT. mjcolbeck@gmail.com