Feels Like Summer
July 2025 | Notes From The Studio | Issue 24
I hope you’re enjoying your summer so far. At the end of this month, I’m heading to St. Louis to spend some time with my husband’s family and his siblings. I’m planning to visit the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis while we’re there, in between neighborhood pools, trying new restaurants, and family time.
I’m looking forward to having some extra time with my son — even though he’ll be busy with his cousins,traveling always gives us little pockets of connection we don’t get at home. He’s a teenager now, so when we’re here, his days are full of school, friends, and routines. His presence at home feels like a quick blur. He’s growing up so fast, and I want to hold onto every minute he’ll still give me.
New Original Paintings Available
I’ve added three large-scale paintings to my Studio Collection — New Territory, Hopeful Artifact, and Departure. New Territory and Hopeful Artifact carry more structure, balanced with soft edges, while Departure leans fully into openness and serenity. Each, in its own way, embodies the spaciousness of a relaxing summer day — the same feeling I try to consistently bring to my life and share through my art.
Inspiring Me Now
Revisiting my trip to Italy through my new blog series — Perfect Pairs. It’s a way of sharing small, curated combinations that echo a mood or a memory. Each pairing is an invitation to see how art can hold space for the stories we carry. I’ve written two posts so far: A Quiet Escape and Easy Mornings.
Feeling deeply moved by the many tributes to Colorado’s Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson, after their death from ovarian cancer last week. They were such a bright light. I’m looking forward to seeing Come See Me in the Good Light when it releases on Apple TV+ this fall.
This video by Winds from the album Look at the Sky. The animation by artist John Zabawa is so cool — it reminds me (in the best way) of Matisse’s paper cut-outs and this sun-dappled courtyard featuring a La Gerbe, a commission he created in the 1950s. This large ceramic piece was later donated to LACMA, which is just one more reason I need to visit Los Angeles again soon. Winds’ music, the animation, this courtyard, and L.A. all feel like never-ending summer to me.
Speaking of California, I loved the photos in How to Create a Bohemian Modern Garden by
, featuring the gorgeous garden of one of my favorite creative people, Victoria Smith.Obsessed with Clinamen, a meditative art installation by Céleste Boursier-Mougenot at the Bourse de Commerce in Paris. I would love to experience it in person.
Wishing you plenty of spacious days and a calm mind. Thank you for being here.
Warmly,
Melanie
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