To North Port, Happy Birthday. Love, Michele Moore.
- Michele Moore
- Jul 30
- 3 min read
It is no secret how much I love North Port. My connection to this city runs deep through years of active civic involvement—from graduating with the Leadership North Port Class of 2022 (where I served as Class Vice President) to earning my diploma from the award-winning North Port University program.
So when the City of North Port was preparing to unveil its new official brand identity for its 67th birthday, they reached out directly. The city officially invited me to perform live painting right in the City Hall courtyard as the featured artist for the reveal! My name was right on the official municipal invitation sent out to the community under “Celebrate our Home.”
The Secret Intel Behind the Canvas
Because I’m a North Port University graduate and civically active in our city, I was right there in the resident focus groups voting on the final design options along with the rest of North Port. I had already seen the potential concepts—including the vibrant design with the half-sunburst, native trees, and waterways.
The final winning choice was supposed to stay a total mystery until the big reveal, but while attending orientation for the North Port Business Academy, I spotted a brand-new business card from the Economic Development Department sitting out. I instantly recognized which design had won!
Knowing what was coming, my assistant Jim and I drummed up key Florida references—cattails, pines, water, and our iconic Great Blue Heron—so I could hit the ground running the moment the cover was pulled back.
Brainstorming Logo paintings for North Port Florida Live Painting on Founders Day by Michele Moore Brainstorming Logo paintings for North Port Florida Live Painting on Founders Day by Michele Moore Brainstorming Logo paintings for North Port Florida Live Painting on Founders Day by Michele Moore Brainstorming Logo paintings for North Port Florida Live Painting on Founders Day by Michele Moore
Live Painting (and The Catching of the Easel)
On June 18, 2026, at the 67th Birthday and Rebrand Reveal in the City Hall courtyard, I set up my easel to bring the logo to life in front of the crowd.
Live painting outdoors is always unpredictable. Daniel Finton what taking a photo for the Sun Newspaper and a massive gust of wind caught my easel, and I had to catch the painting mid-air to save it! (That exact wind-saving pose ended up as a feature photo in the Sun and Home & Style magazine!) You can see the paint brushes at my feet and the wet spot. lol
With only an hour during the event, I captured the core energy on watercolor paper, then brought it back to the studio to refine every detail into a finished fine art piece.
A Gift to the City
Once it was completed, I looked at the painting in the studio and knew in my heart where it belonged. It wasn't meant to sit in a closet or end up in a private collection. It belonged to the people of North Port.
I officially gifted the piece to City Hall, titling it “To North Port, Happy Birthday. Love, Michele Moore”—a playful nod to one of my favorite movie titles (To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar), but written with absolute love for our community. Today, it hangs permanently near the main entrance of City Hall for everyone to see.
🎨 Your Turn, North Port!
This painting was my personal love letter to our city, but North Port belongs to all of us.
I’d love to see other local artists, students, residents, and creators take the new city logo and put your own creative spin on it! Grab your paints, pencils, or whatever medium you love, recreate the logo, and include what North Port means to you.
When you share your creation, tag #ToNorthPortFLLove so we can see and share your artwork! Let’s show everyone the incredible creative spirit that makes our city so special.
📰 Honored by the Local Coverage
Honestly, I’ve been so humbled by how much love the local newspapers and magazines have shown this whole journey. Between the live painting at the reveal and donating the finished piece to City Hall, it’s been incredible to see it shared across our community:
The Live Event: The Daily Sun covered the original Founder's Day reveal right after it happened.
The Magazine Feature: Home & Style magazine included the live painting session in their July issue (and captured me trying to catch my easel mid-wind!).
The City Hall Donation: The Daily Sun picked up the story again when the piece was officially handed over to the city.
The Front Page: The Sun Weekly put the story on the cover across Charlotte, Sarasota, and DeSoto counties—which was a complete, mind-blowing surprise.
Bring a Piece of North Port History Home
To celebrate this milestone with our community, I produced a limited run of official fine art reproductions, archival giclées, and commemorative note card sets right here in the studio.
If you want to own a piece of this story, you can order your reproductions directly through our online shop!
Comments