Michaela Gessele receives North Dakota 2022 Farmers Market Youth Grant

Michaela Gessele of Chaseley, N.D., recalls drawing from a very early age. The first art work she recalled was from about kindergarten age, an eight-legged horse, which she later came to know as a figure in Norse mythology.

Michaela's inspiration since then comes from sketching and drawing little designs. As a character develops, she brings life to it by giving the character a name and builds a personality around the character to enhance its artistic appearance.

Michaela recently learned she was a recipient of the North Dakota 2022 Farmers Market Youth Grant award which is helping her to bring her artwork sales to life.

The North Dakota 2022 Farmers Market Grant program is sponsored by the North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association. Ten Youth Vendor grants were provided this year in an effort to help young vendors between the ages of 10 and 18 to participate in markets throughout North Dakota.

In addition to age and other grant qualifications, applicants must be prepared to sell their products at farmers markets who are members of the North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Associations. Michaela will be selling her North Dakota hand designed artwork cards at the participating Bowdon Farmers Market on September 14 in Bowdon, North Dakota.

Michaela was inspired, and strongly encouraged by her younger sister Cheyenne to apply for the grant stating, "She badgered me to do something with my artwork." Cheyenne, a recipient of the North Dakota Farmers Market Youth Vendor Grand in 2021 encouraged her sister to take this opportunity to create a marketable product, which Michaela has done through her charming note cards.

Inspiration for the note cards came from a period of time where she struggled to create images. She began sketching little designs using a Japanese art style and over time created the characters you now see displayed on her cards.

Technology has been both Michaela's friend and foe. She has been refining her art utilizing digital design and computer artwork applications and programs for over two years. She indicated how it can become frustrating at times when she is forced to recreate a work in progress and use another software program, due to updates, etc.

Michaela feels family support and inspiration came from her mother Lydia Gessele and sister Cheyenne. Michaela encourages other area youth to apply for the grant stating, "It's not that difficult, it's not a lot of paperwork so you just need to do it!"

While working on a design concept for marketing her cards, Michaela focused on art that had clean lines, beautiful vivid coloring and shading and neat and visually appealing. She finds it helpful to bring her sketch pad with her to the market working on designs as individuals stop by her Farmers Market table to share how she creates her original artwork.

Michaela's is already exploring other marketable products. She is currently developing a design for a note book cover and other products.

(Submitted)

(NOTE: In the print edition, Michaela's last name was misspelled in the headline. It has been fixed here.)