Michele Y. Parsons - Artist

Michele Parsons, the founder of Parsons Wood Artistry, has been immersed in art and nature her entire life. She spent her childhood drawing and wandering in the woods, exploring nature. Finding a way to combine these interests resulted in her gravitating toward creating art in wood -- woodcarving and pyrography. Both of these art forms give Michele a connection to trees, both in the peaceful sound of carving wood and the primal smell of burning wood.

Gifted with an ability to teach others, Michele has spent years teaching workshop-based pyrography classes, writing for Pyrography Magazine, and writing books.  She receives personal satisfaction when students learn pyrography and are excited about their newly found interest. To help students, especially in remote areas, Michele started selling pyrography equipment and accessories at discounted pricing. The result is Parsons Wood Artistry creating The Pyrography Store​.™

Background
Michele Parsons earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Western Carolina University, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a concentration in Graphic Design and Biology. After graduating, she moved to Atlanta and worked for the next 18 years for a healthcare education publisher as a Graphic Designer and Art Director. She then moved to Raleigh and worked for the next 11 years for an international IT training corporation as the Director of Content Development. After many years in the corporate world, Michele decided to return to her interests and started a second career in art with the formation of Parsons Wood Artistry.

​​Michele increased her knowledge and skill for wood artistry by training under the following experts:

• Fred Cogelow (Several times Best in Show winner at the International Woodcarving Congress)
• Paul Rolfe (Author and Master woodcarver)
• Tom Wolfe (Author of several woodcarving books)
• Vic Kirkman (Founder of Bird Carvers Online)
• Desiree Hajny (Author of several woodcarving books, Woodcarving Illustrated's Woodcarver of the Year recipient)
• Rosalyn Daisey (Author of several woodcarving books)​

 
​Michele is active in local woodcarving and participates in the following organizations:

• National Wood Carvers Association
  
• Charlotte Woodcarvers Club
  
• North Carolina Woodcarving Association (NCWA)
  (Founder and President Emeritus)
  
• Southeastern Pyrography Association (SEPA) (Founder)
  
• Created To Thrive Artist Mentoring Program | Matt Tommey
• Rutherford County Visual Arts Guild (President Emeritus)
• Rutherford County Woodworkers
  
• Affiliated Wood Carvers
  (sponsors of the International Woodcarving Congress)
  
• Pyrography Magazine Community (Facebook)
  
• Women with Knives

Michele participated in an historic pyrography show, Twentieth Century Pyrography Exhibition, at the Andrews Art Museum, in Andrews, NC. It was the first all pyrography exhibit featuring artists from around the world.

Michele on location burning a 16 ft mural
for a new farm-to-table restaurant in
Greensboro, NC