What You Surround Yourself With Matters
February 2024 | Notes From The Studio | Issue 9
Next week I’m going to Puerto Vallarta for a few days. I’ve never been to Mexico and I’m so excited to go someplace new! We were planning to go to L.A. but decided on a little bit further and a little bit warmer instead. I can’t wait to swim in the ocean and bring back fresh inspiration for my ever-growing catalog of travel-inspired artwork!
Even though travel is one of my favorite creative wells, I get tons of inspiration from daily life. This year I’ve already seen some great films and TV shows and interesting art exhibitions. Here are some standouts.
Poor Things is one of the most creative, dark, disturbing, funny, and beautifully designed and shot films that I’ve seen in a long time. I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I saw it and I’m still obsessed. London-based costume designer Holly Waddington is phenomenal!
This exhibition at the Seattle Asian Art Museum was amazing — Anida Yoeu Ali Hybrid Skin, Mythical Presence. It was thought-provoking and beautiful. I loved the video installation The Buddhist Bug, Into the Night. You can see a bit of it right here.
Have you read Filterworld by
? Check out the reviews/articles/podcasts, especially this one: How To Discover Your Own Taste. Fun Fact: I read the transcript (twice!) instead of listening to the podcast. It was really fascinating and I’m excited to read the book.
Sometimes inspiration can be found in something as simple as having cocktails at a cool neighborhood bar like Life on Mars in Seattle’s Capitol Hill.
Speaking of Seattle, I’m sharing some of my favorite spots in the February/March issue of Jennifer Magazine.
My point is what you surround yourself with matters.
Whether that be travel to a new destination, the art that you hang on your wall, or your favorite walk around your neighborhood — what you experience and pay attention to impacts your daily life. Be sure to bring in some good things.
Featured Painting: Places That Define Us
I have deep love affairs with places.
The familiarity of the curve of a street makes me swoon.
Knowing the exact view of the ocean that lies beyond the hill, my lungs burst with joy in anticipation of marine blues.
I long to immerse myself in its familiar treasures, if only for a moment.
Pinch a piece of its essence in exchange for a drop of my own.
48W x 36H x 1.5 D inches
Acrylic on canvas
Created in 2024
Artist's signature on back
Hanging wire installed
Frame not included
Featured Prints: Inspired by the Sea + Let the Land Soothe You
Thanks for being here. I’ll be in touch with new inspiration to share after I return from Puerto Vallarta!
xo,
Melanie
Beautiful, Melanie. I try and find inspiration in unexpected places, too. I hope you have a wonderful trip to Mexico!
This was such an inspirational reading about…inspiration. I have tickets to see the exhibition at the Seattle Asian Art Museum next Thursday. Discovering really unique, challenging and beautiful experiences are sometimes hard to find. We really need those, and newsletters such as yours guide us to those experiences. Thanks Melanie. Hope you love Mexico!