Michael Bell, 2024–2025 National Art Education Association (NAEA) National Supervisor of the Year and longtime leader of Visual and Performing Arts in Queen Anne’s County, has opened a new artist studio in Chestertown, offering immersive, hands-on workshops designed to reconnect adults with their creativity—and rediscover parts of themselves they may have set aside.
Located at 312 Cannon Street, the studio introduces Drawing the Line: Visual Journaling Workshops & Artist Conversations—a unique experience blending storytelling, fine art techniques, and collaborative exploration.
Tucked behind Yarrow & Wren, the space features vaulted ceilings, original hardwood floors, and expansive windows that flood the studio with natural light—creating an environment that feels equal parts working studio, gallery, and creative retreat. The experience is designed to feel less like a class and more like stepping into a creative space where conversation, music, and experimentation unfold naturally.
A dedicated gallery showcases Bell’s large-scale narrative self-portrait work, while the adjoining podcast space serves as a home for ArtScene | The Podcast.
While Bell is widely known for his leadership in arts education across Queen Anne’s County, this new venture marks a return to his personal studio practice.
“I’ve spent years encouraging teachers and students to stay artists,” said Bell. “This is me drawing that line—and creating a space where people can explore who they are through art, without pressure and without rules.”
The studio will host a range of small-group experiences, including visual journaling sessions, collaborative abstract workshops, and open studio nights designed for both beginners and experienced artists. Sessions often incorporate music, unconventional prompts, and unexpected constraints to push participants beyond their comfort zones and into authentic expression.
Workshops emphasize creative risk-taking, personal storytelling, and connection—welcoming individuals, couples, and friends looking for a meaningful shared creative experience.
Bell’s portfolio includes privately collected works and portrait commissions of notable figures from The Sopranos, A Bronx Tale, and Goodfellas, along with large-scale narrative series exhibited in galleries and events nationwide.
Workshops are intentionally limited in size to maintain an intimate, high-quality experience.
Learn more at https://mbellart.com
To explore upcoming studio experiences and reserve a spot, visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/
About Michael Bell
Michael Bell is an award-winning artist, speaker, author, and arts leader whose work centers on storytelling, identity, and lived experience. A nationally recognized educator and TEDx speaker, Bell is known for helping others “draw a line from their life to their art that is straight and clear.”
