And nooooo .... I don't mean allergy season.  Although it IS allergy season, that snot what I'm referring to.  (see what I did there?)
It's Spring, of course, you sillies.  
I've been painting.  A lot.  Like, I didn't realize how much I'd been painting until I started the spring cleaning in the studio.  There are winged creatures and feathers and fish scales and space matter and singing women and flowers galore.  
Of course, you know I'm talking about the paintings, right?  Otherwise, the cacophony of all that would surely have been reported by the neighbors ... 
As always, I have that reluctant feeling when I start releasing my words and works into the world. The hesitation of "it's not ready" and the "what if".   And then it occurs to me.
The art wants to stop seeing me and me only. 
The art wants to be released.  
The art wants to be on new walls and in new spaces. 
To be lovingly admired by new faces.  To be ooh'd and ahhh'd over.  
To let their stories be told.
The only "what if" is the pressure of "what if I don't release it" which makes it easier to do so.
Because clearly if I don't, all that cacophony will be trapped in the studio and then I have to deal with the neighborhood reports.   Definitely not a bucket list item.

I'll be back at one of my favorite Colorado Springs watering holes, District Elleven as the April featured artist!  I'll be there on First Friday (April 5), do stop by to see me and my art and support local small businesses!  

(PSA: The website is not completely caught up to this decision.  There are some visual snacks available for you here.)  


XO - Melissa

I think for many people the year 2023 was a big challenge.  It certainly was for me.  
This is evident in that my last blog post was nearly a year ago in April 2023.  
I went silent from my creative self. I road tripped for a while after that post. 
Perhaps I was clearing my head of the life notices and circumstances which occurred in the first four months of 2023?
Perhaps I was subconsciously preparing for the series of Very Big and Deeply Personal Traumatic events that were to come in the future months?
Perhaps I thought taking my hands off the figurative sticky wheel of some parts of my life would alter their trajectory?
The solo road trip remains epic in my mind.  More on that another time.  

I cannot, Cannot, CAN NOT possibly ever, Ever, EVER convey the gratitude and love I have for my family, network of friends and community I have in this still-new-to-me hometown of Colorado Springs. Combined with my remote support system from around the world, this group supported me with food, hugs, shoulders, laughter, distraction, notes and phone calls at just the right time.  As if orchestrated by a grand karmic source these amazing souls in my life worked as one big team giving me soft spaces to land when I desperately needed something, anything and didn't recognize the need on my own. 
If you don't have a network like this already, build one. 
Build it with purpose and intention. 
Be vulnerable and trust others to care for you.
Be open and make space for more to join your network. 
Give it your attention. Cultivate it. Breathe life into it. 
And don't you ever dare take it for granted.  

How will all of this show up in my artwork?  I don't yet know.  As with almost everything in my life for the past few years I'm gonna put that shit into the hands of the Great Karmic Orchestrator and let it take control of the Sticky Wheel of Life.  I'll just say "yes" instead of "perhaps". 

​XO - Melissa

At least that's what we were taught, right? 
Here in The Springs the temperature was 70 degrees F, tonight snow showers are expected, and then low temperature is expected to reach 17 degrees F.   Weather is so fascinating ... friends in Phoenix report 80 degrees, family in Ohio report never ending rain.  

But as mentioned in my previous blog update, spring happens no matter what, and by the calendar it is here! 
If you're yearning for some spring posies and you can't find them yet on your walk or hike, come visit District Elleven (https://districtelleven.org) all through the month of April where I'm the featured artist, and my floral creations will be blossoming on the walls of this beautiful and thoughtful speakeasy.   

​XO, Melissa

"It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself.
Makes you wonder what else you can do that you've forgotten about."  
Lester Burnham, American Beauty

The latest commission painting I did is just such an example of surprise. 

Even though there is a plan behind most of my paintings, the "plan" is not always completely obvious to me.  Let's credit also the muses who were waiting for the moment to contribute.

​Painting blank areas only with water and then dropping in the color never. ever. fails. to take my breath away.   Watching the paint or ink move in mysterious ways is magical (I say this a lot) and mesmerizing.  Maybe a bit addictive.  I can testify that for me, the painting of water is certainly improved if done so with teary-eyed wonder and amazement.  

Check out The McFarlane Commission.  And enjoy the view.

XO - Melissa

I'm feeling crafty.  
I remember using that word "crafty" when I was a kid to describe my parents.  
Because they were wood workers, patio and deck builders, gardeners, shelf making, sewists - you know, they did CRAFTS. 
My parents got a kick out of my usage of that word because the first definition of that word is as follows:
1. clever at achieving one's aims by indirect or deceitful methods
The second definition has to do with actually making decorative objects

So believe me when I tell you when someone admits they are crafty, I give 'em the side-eye.
I don't give them the stink-eye though. Because the stink eye is just ... mean.  Stink eye requires a certain level of witchcraft (witchcraftery? But see, there's the word "craft" again!) I don't possess.  In my family we call that a "SOD" (Sign of Disgust).  We also have an "EROD" (which is an Eyeroll of Disgust), though this is typically saved for when the persons back is turned.  

Anyway - I'm finding the zone again for my CRAFT - the first definition of which is "an activity involving skill in making things by hand".    The studio is much more organized than when I last posted.  My ankle is healing, which means my mode of transportation is now slow walking with a limp*. 

An exciting project is in the works in the form of a large grouping of paintings of koi.  This is a commissioned project for the contractor who did our basement finish - which is the location of my studio.  Kinda meta, no?   There were two directions given to me for this project:  LARGE and LOTS of color.  The sketch has been approved; the color palette decided in theory (additional colors will morph naturally from the existing palette); and a couple of small initial paintings have been approved as well.    Need some ASMR?  Check out this video of koi and space out for a bit. Or, have a shot of tequila if that suits you better.  Actually, why choose?  This is a judgement free zone.

Until I post again, stay well and continue to find amazement in the world.  XO - Melissa
*Speaking of limping, here is an Irish blessing which came to mind yesterday.  Feel free to use it anytime during the upcoming toast worthy season: 
May those who love us, love us
For those who don't, may God turn their hearts
For those whose hearts He cannot turn
Let Him turn their ankles so we shall know them
by their limping