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Melanie Blystone
USA
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“I have so much to share with the world. Painting is something I do every day, to capture the sights, smells, colors, feelings, and emotions of what is around me.”
As the oldest of 5 kids, Melanie used her ability to doodle, draw, sketch, and paint as gifts for family and friends. Even when money was tight or non-existent, she could always find something to create on, whether it was paper, cardboard, rocks, or pieces of wood. Anything could become her canvas.
Phoenix Rising | Acrylic
$750
30 X 40
This mythical creature rises from the ashes and is reborn again and again. How many times in life, have we, ourselves died? Only to put ourselves back together and rise again.
Just recently Melanie received back some paintings she did 30-plus years ago, after her grandparents passed, and their house was sold. Making a nostalgic post on social media about these 2 paintings, brought forth memories from many people who remembered seeing them. It touched her heart to know her art had that kind of impact on people.
Dancing Mermaids | Acrylic
NA
27 X 23
The first fluid painting I did. Inspired by the ocean, I lived by at that time.
Can you find the mermaids? I will give you a hint, there are 4.
Life is sometimes hard. Things go wrong in life, love, business, friendship, health, and in all other ways life can go wrong. And when life gets tough, this is what you should do - Neil Gaiman. A favorite phrase of Melanie's is, "Love is an action word!" Through her ability to share and show the beauty around her, she shows love. The movement of paint, action. The feelings people get from her work, degrees of the spectrum of love.
“Life evolves and changes, so did my painting style. I have discovered a love of using unconventional materials like strainers, balloons, straws, and especially chains.”
In this crazy world, one of Melanie's passions is to affect change, one person at a time. To leave a corner of the world, better than she found it. Paintings allow Melanie the freedom of expression to do just that. Hopefully people will feel something, someday. They will become inspired to action. Step into the light, be bold and live to their fullest potential.
Tethered | Acrylic
$650
30 X 40
Tethered, by definition, means to tie with a rope or chain, so as to restrict movement. However, in love, I feel like tethered means to bind together so both people can soar to new heights
Life is messy, our emotions are as well. Inspired by the style of Jackson Pollock. Goodbye was painted after the death of my grandfather, who disowned me after I got pregnant out of wedlock. This painting is full of emotions, that I am still processing. The anger at not being able to say what needed to be said.
Good-bye | Acrylic
$500
30 X 40
This exhibit is the end of a 5-year journey, but hopefully not the last. The passion for painting really took root during her high school years. Outside of art classes in High School, Melanie is essentially self-taught. Most of the fluid painting techniques were learned and developed from watching videos on YouTube and experimentation.
“We as humans have had a hell of a couple of years. We watched the world just stop. We saw nature claim back some of her territory and heal a little bit of herself. But every living being that is still here, is here for a reason and a purpose. Art allows us to figure that out!”
“As a woman living in a wheelchair for the last 30 years, I have experienced death and rise from the ashes multiple times. From being a wheelchair athlete in college to finding myself as a single mother of 4 humans.”
How do you paint abstract concepts, like starting over? How do you paint the emotions of loss, joy, mystery, and wonderment? How does the paint capture your emotions of finding your soulmate? The memories of childhood joy? The sadness of loss for things not said. These are just some of Melanie's goals when she paints.
Swipe Clean | Acrylic
$150
24 X 36
Sometimes you need to start again. So you swipe all the old crap out of your life and start again. The reality is the slate is never clean. There is always residue, emotions, memories, regret, or longing left over.
Through the encouragement of family and friends, 4 years ago, while living in San Diego, California, she did her first pop-up event. Selling wearable art, jewelry pieces, and paintings. It went very well. It gave her the courage to set up her online presence and Art by Mel was born.
Rainbow Music | Acrylic
$500
40 X 30
The 2nd Jackson Pollock-inspired painting. This one has a very different tone and feeling. Inspired by the music, I was listening to while dancing around in my kitchen. I hope you can feel the lightness, joy and exuberance.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Every artist was once an amateur.” This quote shows Melanie's love of teaching. It also reminds her that everyone starts at the beginning. Mostly a fluid-style painter, influenced by fellow artists like kind Lindstrom and Soby. Also influenced by Artists like Ross, Pollock, and Monet, can be seen in her paintings as well.
When my youngest was little, he was obsessed with the movie Frozen. His favorite scene, Svenn playing with the icicles hanging from the trees. Years later, that memory inspired this painting. Also, the only large-scale canvas I ever worked on to date.
Blue Forest | Acrylic
$5,000
48 X 60
“Pick up those crayons, pick up those paintbrushes, pick up that clay, pick up that camera. Pick up that instrument and allow yourself to make something.”
Storm Clouds at Night | Acrylic
$100
12 X 36
The view out my back door. One of the first storms we experienced after moving from Southern California to Georgia. We were fascinated by all the green, the rain, and the storm clouds.
Bob Ross said, “I started painting as a hobby when I was little. I didn't know I had any talent. I believe talent is just a pursued interest. Anybody can do what I do.” Melanie likes this quote because anyone can do this. It is just not everyone tries. So be bold, try new things, grow in knowledge and skill, and find a way to put your passion into creating. You will be surprised how it makes you feel.
This two canvas piece came about while missing home. Missing the mountains, the Pacific Ocean, and the Jacaranda trees that line the streets of San Diego in the spring.
This is my love story to back home.
Jacaranda Remembered | Acrylic
$700
36 X 48
The aim of art is to not represent the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance – Aristotle. Have you ever wanted to start again? Sometimes you need to start again. So, you swipe all the old crap out of your life and start again. Wipe the slate clean. The reality is the slate that never cleaned completely. There are leftover remnants, emotions, memories, regret, and possibly longing. Hints of the life we leave behind.
Balloon #2 | Acrylic
$650
30 X 40
This is for the fans of KPop. A thank you from me. It is their energy and passion they have for their groups of choice, that got me into that style of music. It is contagious. This particular heart was influenced by the music of BTS, Jackson Wang,
BlackPink, Jay B, Stray Kids.
“When I look back on my career as a painter, I want future painters to look at my works and get inspiration from them as I was influenced and inspired by my favorite painters.”
Melanie Blystone
@melanieblystone
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