Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Borland.
Hi Melissa, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. Before we ask about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have always been “artistic,” but haven’t always been an artist. Upon graduating from university, I went into teaching in the public school system. I taught in a Title I school for several years before realizing there was no place for my heart, skills, and dedication. I was devastated to leave my students and the career I had worked so hard for. I mourned leaving the art of teaching and the identity that came with changing young people’s lives. Creating and painting helped me start to shine again. I started taking classes locally, and when Covid hit, I began taking them online. The pandemic showed me how short and precious life is, so I decided to go for it with building my business, and in 2022, Melissa Borland Artwork was established.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the challenges of owning my own business is learning about the business world. All the decisions are already made for you in teaching—your hours, pay, students, subjects, etc. In business, I have to set my budget, learn the best marketing and branding practices, and progress in my skill sets as an artist. I wasn’t even on Instagram until 2022! The fun part about owning my own business is that I get to decide what to paint and how it is presented and meet some fantastic people with whom I would not have otherwise crossed paths. It’s also a daily struggle to learn a life-work balance, which many people can relate to. My two boys are 7 and 5, and I never want to look back and say I wish I’d spent more time with them.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an artist, and my paintings are very intuitive. I like bright colors, post-impressionism, and fauvism. I’m usually painting whatever I’m into at the time. When I did a Coastal Wetlands series, I learned so much about that ecosystem, and it made me appreciate the diversity of life and how that is reflected in society. Take the piece “Slowing Down” for an example. When I made that piece, I sat by the marsh, remembering the pluff mud popping and all the little fiddler crabs running around. Fiddler crabs remind me that even the little things count. They are the pluff mud’s cleaners, the ecosystem’s foundation. Do they eat the mud? Well, yes. But technically, they eat the tiny bits of algae, fungus, microbes, and decaying plant and animal matter. Whatever is not digested gets deposited back out. These little scavengers are necessary for the habitat to be cleaner and aerated, affecting the plants, the food chain, etc. All the little actions we take in life make our story and affect the story of those around us. One year, my two boys and I raised Monarch Butterflies in the garden, and I participated in a Butterfly Series. I’ve also been slowly transforming our garden into native plants, which influenced me to do a Wildflower Series a few months ago. At the moment, I’m experimenting with a limited color palette and mark marking. I just released an abstract collection I’m proud of because it forced me out of my comfort zone so much! I can’t categorize my art. Life spills into art, and art spills into life!
Before we go, can you talk to us about how people can work, collaborate, or support you?
The easiest way to support local artists is by buying their work and engaging with their posts on social media. Even if you’re not a huge art lover, it costs nothing to like or comment on a post, and that means the world to an artist because it helps spread the word about their craft. We support ourselves and our families with our art so that little kindness goes a long way.
Pricing:
- Varies depending on size
Contact Info:
- Website: melissaborlandartwork.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/melissaborlandartwork
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/melissaborlandart
Image Credits
Portrait Of Melissa Borland: Leah Judway Photography, Artwork Photography: Imaging Arts Printing
