Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Anderson.
Hi Melissa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was a lawyer for 11 years before I picked up a paintbrush. I was on a sabbatical when I took my first painting class, and the possibilities excited me. The steep learning curve of this new outlet presented challenges that I could lean into. My “I can do that” attitude instilled in me by my parents took over. For me, painting is creating, adding and subtracting, and figuring out how to get where you’re going. As I developed my skill, people began to ask about buying my artwork. Soon painting went from a hobby to a profession. It has been 20 years of painting, and I still face new daily challenges.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Persistence is the only reason I have made it as an artist. It’s a tough balance between creative and business owners. Expression through creation is the reason I paint. Sometimes completing all of the items on the business checklist can get overwhelming while staying true to my creative side. I constantly push myself to think outside the box, learn new techniques, and paint fresh Portraits of the South.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is an impressionist reflection of the people, places, and things of the South. I am inspired by stories of incredible people and places steeped in southern culture and use that inspiration to create with oil paint their soul on the canvas. My abstract take on their likeness is sometimes expressed in something other than the actual colors but in my interpretations from my connection to the subject. My work is based on stories that interest me. I may be different from other artists because I don’t just look at the subject as it is now. I often spend as much time researching the history and background that will provide insight and interest as I paint.
I am proud to have my paintings with collectors that have followed my artistic growth. In addition to homes across the country, my work is part of permanent collections, including the Greenville County Museum of Art, The University of South Carolina School of Law, The City of Greenville, the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, and the Clemson School of Nursing.
What do you think about happiness?
Standing in front of my easel, I am in my happy place. When I’m in the mood to paint, instinct takes over, and I can get into a state of flow. It’s where I feel most connected to the past, present, and future. Expressing myself with paint instead of words provides freedom I don’t feel anywhere else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.melissaandersonstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/melissaanderrsonstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaAndersonStudio/
Image Credits
WIll Crooks
