Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Jean.
Hi Melissa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was always a creative spirit, and at 14yrs old I fell in love with oil painting. Thus began a lifetime obsession of creating art. At 16 yrs old, I lost the vision in my left eye, losing my depth perception completely. I had to readjust how I gauged the distance of what I saw in front of me every day. I would look for light, and shadow to determine perspective. And because of this, light has naturally become the focus of my artwork, whether it’s light shining in a forest, on the water or in a beautiful sunset, it’s become something I naturally seek out. At 33 years old, I took the leap into doing art full time. It’s been the only job I can keep longer than a year! I think before that I really never connected to what I do like I do with creating my own artwork. I began to paint more and more the beautiful lakes and forests around me. I live and create in the beautiful region of Lake of the Woods Ontario. There’s honestly nothing else I’d rather paint. Lake of the Woods is so unique in that it is a huge lake, with many different regions and islands, 14 522 in fact! And so, there’s ALWAYS something new to see, discover and paint. I will spend the rest of my life exploring and painting Lake of the Woods and the incredible diversity of Lakes and Forests right here in Ontario. Over the years, I have been represented and had solo shows in Galleries across Canada. Now, collectors come through my studio doors, or view my art online, and I ship my art worldwide, to private and corporate collectors. Every day I’m painting something unique and that I love, and so everyday in the studio is new and different. It’s a great life!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Choosing Art as a career is never a guaranteed paycheque, but I’ve been lucky over the last 17 yrs to be able to continue painting as my sole occupation. There have been some years of less and some of more, but all in all, it’s been satisfying, and a good way to spend my time, the most natural thing I can do is paint, and I’m grateful for that. There have been struggles with paintings, more in the way that I see them. If I have one that isn’t going right, I burn it and start over in a new way. I never release a painting I don’t fully believe in and want to hang on my wall. Still, those moments can be so frustrating. But it’s led me to be a better artist. I continually invent and experiment and because of the constant state of curiosity and learning, it never gets boring.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
A lot of collectors tell me that my original paintings change throughout the day, and viewers of my paintings will often ask if there’s a light shining behind it. I think I achieve this glow through layers and layers of translucent paint, really focusing on the light as a subject matter. Lake of the Woods is so unique for the incredible sunsets we get on the water. So this is a subject of my artwork in a lot of pieces. Water is my favourite thing to paint and it took years of studying it’s movement and understanding and feeling the slow motion of the reflections in water to be able to achieve the effect of being on Lake of the Woods. It takes incredible concentration but I absolutely love to paint the gentle sway of water. Collectors often comment on how well I depict this area, but I truly believe it’s because I am in love with this area, and that shows in my work. It’s my home, my paradise, my inspiration and I never get tired of seeing the water everyday… because each day is different…. no two sunsets are the same. Seasons change and it’s all brand new again, each time the ice melts, it’s like seeing a good friend after time apart.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Go to your room. That’s the best advice I’ve heard (from my mentor and friend, the late great Robert Genn) and I still take it to heart. What I mean by that, is to make a little area for yourself, which is sacred to the creating of YOUR art, YOUR voice, the way that YOU see something in the unique way that you do. Leave your phone in a different room, leave all distractions aside and spend time figuring out not only what you want to say as an artist but how. Leave projectors and AI out of the picture, and paint how you alone see what you see. I like to refer to a photograph that I’ve taken as inspiration for the painting. But I’m not married to it! I take it as a starting point, and focus on what I feel is the most important part, and begin. Just show up everyday and soon one painting will lead to the next. Quitting your “day job” and the security of traditional work can be so scary, and you might not ever feel ready, but when you do… take the leap. And then work twice as hard at the job of creating art, and keep working twice as hard to keep it. It takes bravery and determination and every hour of work counts when it comes to time at an easel. There’s no sitting back and waiting, it’s all action. So, if you’re willing to put in the time and commitment, I will let you know, that it can be tough, it’s the biggest challenge you might face, but it’s so worth it.
Pricing:
- My prices are according to size, and listed directly on my website
- Canvas Prints are available and are typically 10-20% of the cost of an Original Painting. They make a great gift or wonderful addition to home, cottage or office.
- Custom Artwork/Commissioned Paintings are available and the commission fee for a custom piece is also listed on my website, in my pricelist menu.
- Gift Cards, as well as blank Art Cards are available on my website and make for a wonderful gift.
- melissajeanart.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://melissajeanart.com
- Instagram: melissajeanart
- Facebook: melissajeanart
Image Credits
Lynsey Jordanna photography
