Melissa is a self-taught painter, originally from Newburgh, NY. She is a Registered Nurse living in San Antonio, Texas. Though Melissa has been painting and drawing since childhood, she has had no formal art education other than a few classes in school and as an adult. She is a member of RAW: natural born artists, and Contemporary Fine Art International, and San Antonio Artists Collective. Her work can be seen on the blog, Artists of Texas Contemporary Paintings and Art, as well as on her website or Facebook page.

Melissa’s paintings are poignant and vibrantly representative of the scenes and objects that inspire her creativity. Much of her work gives a slice-of-life impression of having just walked into a scene that someone recently occupied. One feels as if they only just missed something, or maybe need to sit a spell and see what develops. This feeling of inclusion and familiarity makes her work appealing both emotionally and aesthetically. It is gratifying to know that an appreciation for beautiful art often leads to clients commissioning work from Melissa for their homes and businesses. In addition to painting for her own inspiration and as commissioned by others, Melissa participates in charity events in her local community. When an artist cares enough to give something back to their community, it resonates with people, cultivating the foundation for an artist to grow upon. —Written by Frances Byrd for Freedomworks.org