Alex Moulenbelt was the “song and dance” girl of her family growing up. She never thought of herself as an artist. But, after a couple of years of trying her hand at painting, Moulenbelt’s time has arrived.

The special education teacher at Gloucester’s Botetourt Elementary School has been honored with a grant to spend two weeks this summer as an artist-in-residence at the Chateau D’Orquevaux in Champagne-Ardennes, France.

Moulenbelt will travel to Europe in June and join nine other artists from all around the world in a collaborative art experience. In September, she’ll have a solo show at Arts on Main featuring the work she completes while she’s overseas.

Moulenbelt said she grew up thinking her sister was the artist in the family. About four years ago, while she and her husband and children were living in Houston, Texas, Moulenbelt attended a paint night and was hooked. When the family moved to Gloucester a year ago, she started working wi...