Artist Statement
Everything in nature is altered over time, from the largest mountains to the smallest flowers. Melissa’s work typically emulates nature’s designs, textures, and colors. She uses ceramics, metals, and other mixed media to stop time and capture some of these moments to be shared with others. Her desire is to keep them in an unchanging state to be considered by the viewer. She is also currently working on hand-painted kitchenware and home décor. These designs also include whimsical moments throughout the day. Interactions with other people, objects, and animals inspire silly illustrations and memories which she paints onto common kitchenware. Melissa loves to create functional art and prefers pieces that are aesthetically pleasing as well as utilitarian. Nothing brings her more joy that to have a person choose her work and to see them put it to use.
Melissa's current body of work includes combining ceramics into sterling silver jewelry. She hopes these trials will be successful and will help her branch out into creating a larger body of work highlighting the microscopic world as adornment.