My First Instagram Post
And this is how it all began…
December 31, 2021
So, I’ve got a bit of a hobby problem…I’m an architect by profession and spend my working hours designing homes and reimagining spaces for some amazing clients…but the time I spend for me, is painting. And I’ve been doing it now for about 30 years (yikes, that makes me sound really old). It has always been my stress reliever and something I have done for me and me only. It allows me to see a project from start to finish in one sitting, alla prima in fancy artist speak. I do it this way probably because I tend to be impatient and architectural projects can sometimes take years for the final result to present itself.
I tend to paint what is interesting to me at the moment…florals, landscapes, architecture, animals, and the occasional abstract. I’ve also done some unconventional portraits of my kids along the way, I’ll share those another time.
I enjoy painting in oils the most. It’s the layering process that I’m drawn to. My style is more of an impressionistic approach with some abstract expressionism thrown in. I try to use my brushwork to tell part of the story while allowing your mind to fill in the voids.
This year has been interesting, different, and challenging in ways I did not imagine. It’s also allowed me to slow down and pay attention to what is meaningful to me and my family. I started 2020 with the mantra of “This is the year for doing! No more talking about it, it’s about doing it”. One of my “doings” was to paint more…and because I was able to slow down, I did (yay me!). So much so, that i’ve been able to grow as an artist, explore new techniques, take advantage of some amazing online workshops by artists I’ve admired and have some meaningful conversations that have encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and show my work!
So here goes…My name is Mel and I have a hobby problem. I’m an oil painter that also architects in Greenville, SC. I am married to the most amazing man that swept me off my feet the moment we met and have had the honor and privilege of living on every major coast in the US, including Hawaii, while supporting him as he served as a United States Marine. We have two beautiful children and one very lazy dog. I hope you’ll follow along, watch me grow, peek into my process, and perhaps find something you like.
Bring on 2021!
And there it was. The post that started it all. I was nervous, vulnerable and had no idea where it would lead me. Slowly I began sharing my work and y’all began showing up.
I was encouraged to keep painting, keep sharing, and keep learning. I invested in myself and enrolled in an art entrepreneur class that I had my eye on last year but just didn’t quite feel ready for. For some reason this time around it felt right. And it’s been one of the best investments I have made for myself.
In that community I have met an amazing group of artists and people that genuinely want to see you succeed. And I am truly grateful for their support and guidance.
Through my work I have reconnected with college friends as well as sweet military friends that I have been blessed to know during my husband’s marine corps career. I have also had the good fortune of meeting new collectors strictly because of my work, and it just makes my heart overflow to think about how art has brought us together.
So thank you, thank you for being here, thank you for listening to me, and thank you for finding enough joy in my work to encourage you to follow along on my journey.
The post above is a very raw “about me” version and I truly love it (I also slightly cringe, but I digress). It marks a great starting point for me. But since starting this adventure, I have been able to dig deep and connect with my why. And I’ve learned that I am drawn to nostalgia, my subjects are associated with a dear memory and my paintings are my way of expressing that in the physical form. A visual reminder of a joyful time, represented on the canvas and displayed beautifully in your home.
So, thanks again for supporting my little art biz, I look forward to what this adventure unfolds.
-Mel
PS: Want to read a more updated “about me”? Click the link below.
