MELISSA JAMES
Melissa has always been intrigued by the affects that light has on the world around her. As a young girl, she was fascinated by the fact that the rhythm of the season not only affected the colors of her surroundings but also how those colors interacted with the light. This intrigue is what began her artistic journey.
After receiving many accolades and awards for her artwork throughout her academic career, Melissa continued to pursue her passion and expand on her training at the Maryland Hall for Creative Arts, Annapolis. During her tenure there is where she first experienced plein air painting, a style she continues to utilize and be mesmerized by to this day.
Life took an unexpected turn when Melissa found herself living in France for five years, during which time she spent every moment possible browsing museums, both in Lyon and Paris. It is there that the style of Impressionism stole her visual heart.
Upon returning to the United States, Melissa continued to feed her thirst for expressing her vision through form, style, color and her first love, light. Emotion soon began to define her style and speak through her pieces. Her favorite style, to date, is the Alla Prima method of painting. Much of her work is heavily influenced by intuitive color mixing and application. Her goal is to allow her eyes to “play”.
Melissa continues to grow artistically by attending workshops and interacting with other professional artists.
Though she did not begin pursuing art professionally until later in life, Melissa has found indescribable joy and peace at her easel, which has proven the journey to have been more than worth it.
“There is no App for emotion…at least not yet”
As a professional artist, I tend to paint according to how something feels as my motivation rather than trying to duplicate.
I relish the process of the “creative journey” required by painting. I have found myself almost addicted to the profound peace and joy experienced when applying the final stroke to a painting and declaring it complete.
I am convinced that the skilled usage of the human element when painting naturally leads to originality and authenticity.
As a painter, my greatest joy is observing people while they are observing my work. When someone pauses or lingers while experiencing one of my paintings, I know I have conveyed my artistic vision successfully through color, form, value and yes…emotion.
I truly love to paint.