Melissa Muehleisen, Artist's Notebook
Freedom to Fail
A few months ago I tried to start something new. I wanted to incorporate portraiture into my composite paintings. I’ve been making portraits for almost 20 years so I thought it would be a small step of progression. In a rare moment of confidence, I overestimated myself. I had recently made some pastel paintings while trying to find a new portrait style that I have been exploring in only my mind for years. After a couple successful completions I thought I was on a roll and decided to start painting. Wake up call. I wasn’t ready. My portrait skills were...
I believe in Miracles
Recently I started an ambitious painting with multiple portrait views based on the concept of joy. But then the world turned upside down. Life went from breezy days at the park, cookies at the grocery store with my kid and going out for draft beer and pizza with my husband to caution and shuttered businesses. I check the Hopkins COVID tally every night before bed, I can’t sleep if I don’t check it and I can’t sleep if I do. I can’t seem to focus on a painting about joy. Now is a time to focus on miracles and hope....
Artist Response to Water Pollution
Composite Paintings Water Water Pollution
Benjamin Franklin said “When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.”
Water and stardust are required for life. The body needs water to form, to live and to decay.
The Pain of Developing a New Portrait Style
Chasing a vision pain of progress portrait style
Have you ever known a smoker or a chronic dieter that claimed: “Oh, I can do it and I know exactly what to do, I just have to make up my mind to do it.”? Maybe that person is you? That person was certainly me when it came to developing and changing my drawing style!
Copper Experiments
Composite Paintings Copper Experiments
The behavior of electrons commands endless fascination and study. As we grow to a better understanding of their behavior technology advances and devices can be made smaller and more powerful.... The shapes of the fabric and the foils represent different concepts related to the behavior of electrons...