Issue #5: Notes From The Studio
The power of abstract art, a peek at my recent show, and city energy.
Thank you so much to those of you who came to my art show last week! I created a (low-quality, sorry!) overview reel of the show so you could get an idea of what the art looked like in Dorothy’s space. It felt so good to see this group of paintings together. I felt so calm, happy, and proud to stand in the middle of this work which was predominantly created in the second half of this year. The original paintings are available in my online gallery if you’d like to take a closer look.
Drew and I enjoyed an afternoon in Seattle last weekend, picking up a few gifts and enjoying the energy of the city. My art often mirrors what I need more of in my life and it’s no surprise that I found myself there just days after revisiting and being drawn to some of my cityscape paintings.
This week I’m back in my studio working on more paintings for my art licensing partners. I got some good feedback on what I’ve been working on so far, so I’m moving forward with the rest! That’s going to be my main focus for the rest of this month and likely most of next month too.
So far, my next art show isn’t scheduled until summer 2024 (at Capers in West Seattle). In early January I’m going to sit down and have a big planning day where I think about and decide where and how I want to share my art in 2024. It’s exciting! I’m open and ready for new opportunities, and also dedicated to making a bigger commitment to providing art to my current partners that I want to continue to grow with.
Featured Painting
In the spirit of new and growth, I’m choosing Alive With Beginning as my last featured painting of the year.
Alive With Beginning reflects hope and optimism. The painting is inspired by the natural beauty of Southern California, a region that is alive with diversity and contrast. The soft brush strokes and neutral tones capture the calm and serene mood of the coast, while the dark accent hints at the dramatic and varied landscape, from the mountains to the deserts.
Although there is darkness in the world, there is a distinct energy of hope and optimism conveyed in this painting that I want to carry into the new year.
I believe that art can nurture and inspire, and that abstract art has the power to evoke memories and transport you to places that hold a special significance in your life. I’m grateful I can connect to a location or a moment in time and use that expansive energy to create something beautiful that can take you back to a completely different place and time — making the intangible tangible.
Thank you so much for supporting my work this year. I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing end of 2023. I’m taking next week off from sharing here, but I’ll be back during the first week of 2024. I’ve been enjoying showing up on Substack and hope that you’ve liked hearing from me more regularly as well.
Happy Holidays!
xo,
Melanie
Just wonderful.
Thanks for sharing and inspiring us.
Have a great holiday weekend and new year.
CeCe Sullivan