Michelle ‘Meish’ Claus (she/they) is a multi-media, queer, Midwest born artist currently living in Charleston, West Virginia. She is a Tamarack Juried Artisan, an avid hiker, kayaker, and forager of medicinal plants and fungi who is inspired by the beauty of each season and the colorful patterns of the forest. She recognizes the importance of shape and texture when identifying trees by their bark in the winter months, and particularly when locating edible mushrooms. This attention to detail translates in her artwork, which features vibrant though often overlooked natural remains and imaginative animals. Meish uses acrylic blended with water to create most of her paintings at her home studio. She often experiments with other mediums and techniques including limestone carving, and linoleum relief printing.