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Michelle Lea Fortier, the creative force behind DragonflyMade, is a Pacific Northwest artist, illustrator and writer from Yakima, Washington. Since age 5, she's been drawing people, animals, and historical architecture, setting the stage for her career. From illustrating greeting cards in high school to launching a children's clothing brand in college, her journey has been diverse in media and styles. Her current work encompasses her passion for illustration and design with her love of collage art. Spanning over 40 years, Michelle's multidisciplinary career continues to innovate. 

Michelle earned her Bachelor's of Fine Arts from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA and her art education degree from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA. She has been teaching fine art and horticulture in her hometown of Yakima, WA at Washington Middle School since 2014. Michelle's dedication to youth arts extends beyond the classroom; she is currently writing and illustrating her first picture book.

Michelle's artwork is a testament to her lifelong connection with the natural world, her love and admiration of folk art culture, literature, music, and appreciation for the human experience. Her creations resonate with the universal language of art and the purity of nature, offering solace and inspiration to all generations. When she isn't making art, she finds joy in adventure and outdoor recreation, travel, gardening and cherishing her home life with her two grown sons and pets.