I’m drawn to the way surfaces hold time — how color fades, material accumulates, and something new is created through years of exposure, erosion, and change.

Through Time is the latest addition to my ongoing Patina collection. Dark blues, umber, and iron red oxide rise and settle within this textured canvas — small cracks and layers built from limestone and marble dust give the impression of stone eroded over many years.

Sharing an image of close-up details above, but photographs truly cannot capture this painting. What is revealed or highlighted changes with the light that the painting is displayed in. Through Time and its companion piece, What Remains, are influenced and impacted by the person/people who bring these works into their home(s).

View all of the paintings in the Patina collection at Seattle Art Source.

FIELD NOTES

Prints: After some thought, I’ve decided to retire Inner Compass and not continue building my own separate fine art print offering. I’ll keep it available in its current iteration until mid-September just in case you were considering it.

For the foreseeable future, I’m going to continue to offer prints through my licensing partners as well as invite you to personally contact me if you’d like to custom order a print of a painting you fell in love with. This way we can work one on one to determine the size, type — canvas or paper — and potential framing options.

The presentation of a print itself can change dramatically based on the preferences of the person who buys it, as well as the place where the print will be displayed. I like the idea of making this a more personal experience rather than offering a large selection of predetermined options.

If you’re interested in my art, I’d love to work with you individually and help you select something that’s right for your particular space and budget.

Savoring: Packing Materials by artist Alyson Fox

Being brave: A Brief Immersion

Participating in life: Lately…

Upcoming travel: Visiting family in Louisiana this month, then headed back to Greece in early September — this time I’ll be predominantly spending time on the island of Hydra, with a brief amount of time on both ends of my stay in Athens. I’m going to be participating in ’s Apertura 1:1 bespoke creative residency through her company, Sēfari. I am BEYOND excited for this unique experience and can’t wait to share more after the trip.

Thanks for being here! Let me know if you need any help choosing art for your home.

— Melanie

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A couple of weeks ago I put together a blog post as I was finishing up a new painting. I wanted to share where I was finding inspiration for the piece — or rather, what coming into contact with certain kinds of things in the wild eventually led to in my studio.

Whatever comes out in my painting sessions originated somewhere, whether I realize it at the time or not.

I think I may have even inadvertently proven the whole “time isn’t really linear” thing in my studio too.

All of this to say I have a new painting that I want to share with you.

Built through layers of acrylic paint and texture mediums, Excavation is a 40x60 inch painting that brings together weathered surfaces and earthy mineral tones. The composition feels organic, suggesting eroded stone and shifting terrain that is gradually revealed over time.

I love that this painting ended up being one that could truly be displayed horizontally or vertically. I feel like that’s really uncommon for my artwork. I’ve included a couple of digitally staged images below so you can get an idea of the size of the painting and how it could look in different environments.

This large abstract painting carries on my work in the Patina series. Excavation and the rest of the Patina collection are available exclusively through Seattle Art Source.

COMING SOON: The Living Room Pop-Up

If you’re in Seattle on August 5, 6, or 7, stop by The Living Room’s latest pop-up event in Pioneer Square. Wednesday August 5th from 5-8pm is the opening preview event which you can RSVP to here.

One of my paintings, The Comfort of Structure, will be featured as part of the pop-up collection. Another one of my artworks, Casa White, is also currently available through The Living Room.

I’m planning on stopping by the opening preview event on the early side, so if you see me please be sure to say hello!

OTHER THINGS

• Housekeeping: My online gallery was becoming unmanageable with the way I was trying to keep all of my paintings on my “shop” page, so I had to make an adjustment.

  Here’s where you’ll find everything now: available original paintings from my studio and available originals from gallery partners. And as a reminder, custom commissions are also available.

• I finished watching the series finale of the Turkish drama Another Self / Zeytin Ağacı recently, and I’m going to miss it so much. I wrote about it here.

• Currently reading Carley Fortune’s latest book One Perfect Storm. I love all of her books — they feel like summer.

• Brunch on a lavender farm — I’m doing this at the end of the month and I’m so excited.

• After visiting Edgewater Beach every weekend for ages, I finally saw Orca whales — it was an incredible experience!

Thanks for being here! I hope you’re having a great summer.

— Melanie

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When we last caught up I shared that I was stealing the big hat from Marketing Melanie and turning it over to Artist Melanie for the foreseeable future, which has been going extremely well.

I’ve realized that I used to belittle some of the things that I did that wouldn’t look to others like obvious productivity. I’ve allowed myself to choose things for my creative self that feeds my curiosity or calmness versus work on something that would immediately lead to a completed painting to sell.

I’ve allowed myself to rest without guilt and I can feel the difference, mostly in that I’m no longer weighing my time and judging how I’m spending it.

I’m still working — I’m typing this newsletter right now, arranging art to be licensed, and exploring a new large painting in my studio — but my inner pace has slowed to match how I really prefer working on the outside.

One of the things born from this new approach is a new category in my Artist Journal called Sketchbook. I’d love for you to take a look at the introductory post. I’m so excited about giving myself this gift. I’ve written two more Sketchbook posts since the intro: The Feeling of Discovery and Ferry Rides, Beach Reads, and the Art of Summer.

I hope they will get you in the mood for sunny days — they’ve gotten me there!

Prints That Feel Like Summer

A selection of prints from my archive are available through Gioia Wall Art, and I pulled a few that feel like summer. I’ve digitally styled them here to show the scale of some of the larger sizes, but multiple options are available.

Links in captions and at the end of this section.

You can see my full Gioia Wall Art print collection here.

Thanks for being here.

— Melanie

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Thursday, May 21, 2026

8:57 AM, Home

Note: Wrote by hand then dictated to my Notes app for editing. Just in case you were wondering.

I just cleaned off my desk. It’s still full of dust and I have to wipe it down when I finish my coffee, but I managed to make it through piles of receipts, users guides, notes to myself ranging at least five years back, and other stuff that I can’t bother to list.

The thing that I most wanted to do this morning is what I’m doing right now – free writing, by hand. See what wants to come out.

Natalie Goldberg says I’m supposed to keep my hand moving, but sorry I have to stop and drink coffee. Plus it has been so long since I’ve written this much this quickly that I can feel a little cramp starting in my hand and wrist. But I also feel the kinetic energy of it – the quick movement of ink across the page, the energy running from my brain down my right arm and out through my fingers.

The sorcery of words.

It feels good to be sitting at a clean desk on a sunny spring weekday morning, allowing things to flow out like this. Feeling connected to my inner self. In relationship with my creativity. That’s the goal these days – to strengthen my relationship with my creativity. To allow things to be born from that place.

I’ve spent a lot of time looking at myself and my work from the outside in – trying to optimize, trying to market, trying to “figure out”. Marketing Melanie has a huge hat that she defaults to putting on. But it’s time for her to put on something smaller – less sombrero, more baseball cap. Or at least one of those cute summer straw bucket hats that does its job without taking up an entire airline row.

Just now thinking of the photo I love of the model wearing nothing but a giant sun hat. Can’t find that one, but I also love the one below by Beste Zeybel.

Marketing Melanie understands the importance of her job, but she has just been doing it in an all-consuming way and she is ready to step back now. Artist Melanie is ready to wear the sombrero. Or at least this giant sun hat.

I love this hat analogy.

It may not look like it to the outside world, but Marketing Melanie has snuffed out some of Artist Melanie’s fire. And Artist Melanie is ready to reclaim it. She’s ready to cozy up right next to the flame.

As I said in a note that I wrote to myself last week, this is what I want my writing to be now: the fire to create myself, not market myself.

I realized that I had moved away from the fire, and that’s where the warmth is. The feeling.

Optimize less. Feel more.

Featured Print: To Be Free

Additional Notes

• I’m currently rereading Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg. I read this book for the first time in 2002, when I was really getting into writing and my goal for my life was to become a professional writer. I wanted to see what it feels like to read it again, a quarter of a century later, after becoming a professional writer, photographer, painter, and mother.

  I remember this book meaning so much to me in those early stages of exploring my own creativity. This is one of the ways that I’m moving back toward my own creative fire. Revisiting what has nurtured it.

• Last week I read and related to this post by . I’ve spent way too much time thinking about optimization over the past few years and I’m ready to give it up.

  Hidden Value with David Sherry

  The Case for De-Optimization

  The last decade of self help was about doing more, i.e. productivity…

  Read more

  4 months ago · 3 likes · David Sherry

What about you? Anything you’re feeling more drawn to lately? Anything you’ve noticed about yourself that you’re working on changing?

Thanks for being here.

— Melanie

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Years ago I had a conversation with some friends and I remember saying something like, “I think I came to earth to understand time.”

That’s the only possible explanation, right?

It’s why I’m obsessed with books like The Time Traveler’s Wife and movies like Sliding Doors. Why one of my favorite TV shows of all time is Being Erica, and not just because she gets to relive days with her deceased brother. I wasn’t even expecting a storyline so close to what I would actually wish for if I could have my own journeys through time.

Time is just something I’ve always considered. Often in a panicky way, but sometimes in the beauty of its passing. It’s why I love the word patina and was happy it fit as the perfect name for my latest painting series.

Two important parts of being an artist are continued exploration and connecting the threads of observation.

My obsession with time spans more than just entertainment preferences.

A pattern exists across many of the photos I take: worn walls, ancient tiles, lines in rocks, shells, or driftwood. Tactile things that I always notice and find beautiful.

What I first thought of as a purely aesthetic preference eventually led me to something deeper.

Not only are the surfaces I’m drawn to conveying the passing of time — they’re mirroring life itself.

Things erode, even those that feel solid. We are ever changing. What we experience as “self” can often be looked at as moments of time strung together and the traces they’ve left.

The cracks in the surface left behind by grief. Faded, sun-worn beauty from age. Wobbly lines that mimic feeling ungrounded.

We all have these kinds of experiences. The ones that leave a mark. And on their own, they may never be confused with something beautiful. But when they merge together over time and still manage to shine in the sun, they can become something worth celebrating.

The Paintings

You can view more details and images of each painting here.

If you’re local or planning to be in the Seattle area, you’re always welcome to reach out and schedule an appointment to see the work in person at my studio.

Thanks for being here.

— Melanie

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Just a quick reminder that the last day of my studio sale is Thursday, April 30th. Thank you to those of you who have supported my work. I’m grateful, and happy that you found paintings you connected with.

Studio Sale

Everything that I create shares the feeling of time made visible — in the subject matter or the way I apply paint to canvas or wood. It’s all part of the same story.

Before I introduce the next chapter, I’m hosting a studio sale on a selection of previously released paintings. You can view them here. The sale will end on Thursday, April 30th — the week before the new collection launches on Tuesday, May 5th.

If you’re local or planning to be in the Seattle area, you’re always welcome to reach out and schedule an appointment to see the work in person at my studio.

Thanks for being here.

— Melanie

VIEW MY ART

Thanks for reading Notes from the Studio. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. You’ll also receive a one-time code for 15% off any original painting available through my studio when you subscribe.

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I’ve been spending a lot more time with words these days.

I’ve gotten back into journaling and that’s helping me when I have intrusive thoughts that take me away from what’s happening in the present moment.

I’ve also been using it to explore my painting practice more deeply. Not just writing about what I’m working on that day, but using it to discover common threads I’ve been inspired by over time.

One of the things that always catches my eye is worn surfaces. I like to think of them as time made visible. I started exploring that a bit more when I came back from Greece last fall, creating The Shape of Time and Shine Beyond Your Edges. I could see the influence in Inner Compass and Wayfinder as well.

Earlier this year I put exploration aside for a bit to work on a commissioned piece, and then took a bit of downtime to work through some beginning of the year blahs. Finally I felt ready to continue down the path of painting the concept of time.

The three new paintings I will be releasing soon show evidence of duration. And what I realized from journaling, they also mimic a lived life.

Surfaces that feel eroded, scratched, or uneven mark time. They hint at what’s underneath. And each new painting (2 16x20 inch, 1 24x30 inch) shares this in common. It’s like our own lives. What we weather doesn’t go away. It becomes part of us. Cracks in our hearts can heal with time, but the experience of it breaking doesn’t disappear.

I’m not saying that I’ve been consciously drawn to crumbling walls or fractured seashells for this reason — but aren’t the parallels interesting to explore? That’s one of the things I love about being an artist and a writer. That inclination to go deeper.

Studio Sale

I’ve realized that everything I create shares the feeling of time made visible — both in the subject matter and in the way I apply paint to canvas or wood. It all feels like part of the same story.

Before I introduce the next chapter, I’m hosting a studio sale on a selection of previously released paintings. You can view them here. The sale will end on Thursday, April 30th — the week before the new collection launches on Tuesday, May 5th.

If you’re local or planning to be in the Seattle area, you’re always welcome to reach out and schedule an appointment to see the work in person at my studio.

Thanks for being here.

— Melanie

VIEW MY ART

Thanks for reading Notes from the Studio. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. You’ll also receive a one-time code for 15% off any original painting available through my studio when you subscribe.

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I’ve spent much of my life attempting to consciously live the lesson of uncertainty.

Impermanence. Being aware of it and learning to live in the moment without obsessing over it. Moving through the flow of life, whatever comes my way in the waves.

And it’s interesting, right? The more we’ve become a technological society, the more waves we have. It’s not just our home, or our families and neighbors. It’s people across an ocean. A continent. The world.

It’s everything coming at us all at once. All the time. And that’s just the stuff through our phones.

Ugh. I reread these last few lines and know they’ve already been said. Everyone has their take on technology allowing us to watch the world burn 24/7. I’m really not interested in sharing mine today. I just want to crawl back in bed with my 17 year-old cat who spent several hours at the emergency vet yesterday.

Yesterday morning, Fred was having trouble using his back legs. We don’t have a definitive answer, and we may not choose additional testing to find out since it wouldn’t change the treatment plan. He’s on pain medication and additional fluids and we have a follow-up appointment with his normal vet. He seems like he might be moving a little better today too. I’m just glad that he got to come home with us again and grateful for whatever time we still have with him.

Fred — full name Fab Five Freddy, The Fresh Prince of Cat Hair — is the third cat I’ve bonded with in my lifetime. But there’s something different about him. He’s literally the sweetest, most gentle cat I’ve ever met. He lives ON me. If I’m at home sitting down, he’s in my lap. If I’m in bed reading or sleeping, he’s curled up right next to me or on top of me. He’s an appendage, in the best way.

At the same time I’m knowingly living through the last part of my life with Fred, however long or short that might be, I’m repeatedly learning a lesson in real time about having a teenager. They’re not necessarily going to care about the things that you think they should. And there’s really nothing you can do to change that.

You can talk with them and share stories about some of the things that you’d wish you’d done differently in your own life. But it all comes down to them making their own choices and taking responsibility for their own actions or inaction. Which I didn’t even begin to do until at least my early 20s, and I still had plenty more lessons to learn later. So there’s that.

It’s not easy to watch or live through though, for anyone involved.

Uncertainty. Letting go. Moving forward. Impermanence. Repeat.

This is all making me think about why I prioritize beauty. Why my own Instagram algorithm looks like a travel/art/interior design magazine rather than the journal of a war correspondent. Not to avoid the ugliness of life or the impermanence of it all, but because I know how it feels to grieve. How little time we truly have together on this beautiful rock. Life is short. I want to soak up as many of the good things that I can while I’m still here.

Seattle Pop-Up with The Living Room

Next week, one of my paintings will be included in The Living Room pop-up at the KEEPS Seattle showroom in SODO. There will be art, furniture, plants, vintage objects and handmade ceramics from artists and artisans from Brooklyn, Seattle, Maine and beyond. An RSVP isn’t required to attend the opening, but will help Allison plan for food and beverages. I’m planning to stop by on opening night.

A Few Things

• “Mom, what were you like in the 90s?” — Me? A mashup of carefree and grieving.

• Reading has been a huge, important part of my life ever since childhood. On the Calculation of Volume (Book I) by Solvej Balle, translated from Danish by Barbara J. Haveland is a current favorite. The tone and pace of the book were interesting and calming at the same time*, and I’m a sucker for a time travel/loop/Sliding Doors subject.

  The book felt cozy for me too, maybe because the smaller the main character Tara’s world became — literally one day, over and over again — the quieter it seemed to be too. I get overwhelmed by the noise of life sometimes. I’m mentally and physically sensitive to the energy and information that I take in and it takes me longer to process it. I noticed that Tara began to observe life more deeply in the loop. After all, her world had stopped in a way. She was able to hear herself think.

  Book IV of the seven-part series will be released next month. I read most of my books through my local library and am on the waitlist for Books II and III. Excited for them!

• I recently saw The Bride! and Hamnet, two very different performances from Academy Award-winning actress Jessie Buckley. She’s amazing and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

• International interior design magazines on weekend mornings. This is one of my favorite creative recharge activities. Looking through the images and layouts inspires me and calms me at the same time*, like visiting an art museum or spending time near the sea. Some of my favorites: Milk Decoration, the Côté Maison series of French magazines, and House and Leisure from South Africa.

* I consistently see this theme reflected in my own art — in the way that I choose to express myself visually and the titles that I give to my paintings. How my mind moves and how it’s soothed. There will always be an essence of calmness in what I create.

Thanks for being here.

— Melanie

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I’ll be there in person for much of the day and I’m looking forward to sharing my work here. If you plan to attend, I would love to say hello.

You can find event details here:
Seattle Design Center on February 6th

I’m also grateful to be featured in the February 2026 issue of Bellevue Lifestyle as part of the Her Creative Mark feature. The article shares more about my studio practice, process, and the ideas shaping my current work.

You can access the feature here:
Bellevue Lifestyle, February 2026

And if you happened to miss it over the weekend, I recently released a new body of work titled Water & Warmth. The collection explores moments of feeling grounded and present.

You can view the work here:
Water & Warmth

If you’re planning to stop by the Seattle Design Center gallery on Friday, let me know!

— Melanie

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Some of that has happened near the sea. I walk at the beach near my home most weeks, often over the same stretch of rocks, watching the waves move in and ease back out again.

At some point last fall, I remember having a very clear thought: I want my paintings to feel like this.

When I returned to the studio, I began Wayfinder. Around the same time, I was working on a smaller piece with warmth and weathered texture that reminded me of driftwood washed up along the shore. That painting would later become Inner Compass, though it wasn’t named yet.

Later, while traveling in Greece and spending time by the sea there, the phrase Inner Compass surfaced. It became a way to describe how I wanted to move forward, both in my work and my life. Not by comparison or expectation, but by paying attention to what feels internally aligned.

Those experiences shaped a new body of work I’m sharing today, Water & Warmth. The paintings in this collection move through ideas of orientation and return. Wayfinder and Inner Compass sit at the center, with the surrounding works reflecting moments of recognition, connection, and depth. Standing at the edge of the water. Feeling at home without trying. Allowing something to be meaningful.

Water & Warmth isn’t about escape or resolution. It’s about staying connected to yourself.

The collection includes five works.

You can view the full collection and learn more about the individual pieces in my gallery. Thank you for being here and for spending time with the work.

— Melanie

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This morning I was FaceTiming with a friend about the way life moves. I’ve heard creativity described as a river. Lately, I’m realizing that life is one too.

When I look at this snapshot from 2015, I remember the stream I’d been floating through at that time in my life. It was in the shape of a 100 day painting project. I’d just crossed the finish line, which led me straight into the “now I’m going to become a professional artist” ocean, albeit with no life preserver or compass.

If I compare that moment to where I am now, I see a huge amount of growth. Looking back at this year alone though, about 75% of 2025 was spent with my creative river blocked in one way or another. I didn’t realize it while I was living it, but much of the debris halting my progress was of my own making. Either I gave away too much of my creative authority, or I allowed it to drift by without fully engaging with it. I felt disconnected from my art and, in many ways, myself.

On the contrary, when I think about the last quarter of 2025, I feel grounded. Steady. A clear sense of knowing where I stand.

At this point, not much has changed physically. If you were to look at my life as an observer, it might look the same as it did last year. But what I’ve integrated internally is life-changing. It shows up in the business choices I make behind the scenes and in how I show up in the studio. I notice it as much in the things I’ve stopped doing as in the new things I’ve begun.

My creative river is flowing again. That doesn’t mean I no longer doubt myself or ask questions. It means the part of me that’s been stuck this year has found a way forward. I’ve noticed what was holding me back. I’ve become stronger, more self-trusting. I have something new to return to the next time the water starts to stagnate.

Me, Elsewhere

• When My Paintings Met Greece — Two paintings inspired by France revealed something unexpected after a trip to Greece. A reflection on art, memory, and recognition.

• Hospitality Art Placement at Arlo Midtown NYC — An abstract artwork placed by Indiewalls inside Arlo Midtown, a hotel in NYC designed by Meyer Davis. A look at this hospitality project and the role of art licensing.

• Artist Interview Feature on Gioia Wall Art — If it asks whether you want to visit the U.S. site, don’t click it or you’ll miss the interview.

• Reading — according to Goodreads, I read 62 books this year and landed in the top 10% of readers. (straightens glasses)

I hope that wherever you’re ending 2025, you notice a small opening where the water begins to move.

Thank you for being here.

— Melanie

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Traveling to Greece arrived at the exact moment I was beginning to find my creative rhythm again. What I thought would simply be a beautiful trip became a much deeper invitation. I was given a chance to practice being fully present and pay attention to what moved me.

One quiet morning in Corfu, I wandered the Old Fortress almost alone. The ancient tiles beneath my feet stopped me in my tracks. They were weathered, cracked, and worn by centuries of footsteps. And they were completely beautiful, practically glowing under the morning light. I kept wondering what they looked like when they were new, and why I was so drawn to their imperfections.

When I returned home and stepped back into the studio, the memories of the tiles lingered. The light and color palettes informed my paint choices. But as I began working on these two new paintings, I realized something unexpected.

I wasn’t painting travel memories or architectural details at all. As I created soft layers with washes of color, it became clear that I was painting transformation.

I was painting the inner changes that have been unfolding quietly, in the cracks and edges. I was painting from the place where I’ve allowed more of myself to shine through.

The Shape of Time and Shine Beyond Your Edges were born from that morning in Corfu, but they speak to something much more personal: the beauty in becoming, and the quiet courage of letting yourself expand beyond who you were before.

Both of these paintings are part of my studio collection and available for shipping or pick up from my Seattle studio.

Thank you for being here.

— Melanie

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I’m excited to share my new print collaboration with Melbourne, Australia based Gioia Wall Art. The company has released print reproductions of a large collection of my paintings in both Australia and the USA.

Explore Prints in USA

Explore Prints in Australia

It feels amazing to have the opportunity to work with Gioia to introduce my work to a new country, especially one that I may have a chance to visit next year.

But this year — right now — I’m in Greece!

Remember when I wrote about finding my way back to myself at the end of August?

Here’s a refresher link if you missed it.

After writing that letter, I moved on to slowly working on some paintings in my studio and experimenting with some new-to-me texture mediums.

Spoiler alert/sneak peek: I found my way back to myself. And it starts with the painting I finished right before I boarded my plane to Athens.

Back to why I’m in Greece:

One morning when I was having my last cup of pre-painting coffee, I opened Instagram to find a post from an artist I admire who was co-hosting a painting retreat on an island in Greece. It sounded completely magical. I dreamed about it for a bit, then went on with my day.

After a few days of obsession, practical considerations, and conversations with my husband (and myself), I decided to go for it. I’ve always wanted to visit Greece — I tacked on a couple of nights in Santorini after the retreat because I am obsessed with the architecture! I’ve been craving fresh inspiration and confidence — making this trip alone to meet up with total strangers and taking a couple of extra days to explore another island solo will be confidence-building and inspiring for sure!

It’s been a wonderful experience so far. The one million photographs of tile I took when I had a 6 hour layover in Corfu was worth the trip alone. Here’s a taste of what’s going to be inspiring me in my studio when I return later next week.

I am overwhelmed in the BEST way by the beauty that I’m experiencing on the islands.

I hope you’re well and that you enjoy the prints and the inspiration.

— Melanie

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Earlier this year, I felt a little lost.

On the plus side, I’d created a collection of paintings that I was proud of — a series that represented the duality of my art. After completing Seeking Solace, I moved on to beginning a series of work for my newest gallery partner. I had spoken with the owner earlier in the year and we decided to move forward with representation. I was hesitant, even though it felt like the next step that I “should” take in order to grow my art business.

I had concerns — about the pace that I liked to work in, the gallery’s interest in a collection that featured paintings that varied between soft and geometric, and that the color palettes I tend to use would work for them. Basically, I had strong doubts that the partnership would be a good fit. And these feelings showed up right alongside me when I attempted to create the collection.

What I started to notice, after creating the Seeking Solace collection “for myself” at the beginning of the year, was that when I came into the studio planning to work on paintings for the gallery, I froze.

The feeling of being frozen led me to doubt myself and my abilities as an artist. Red flag, much? I then tried to “solve” this by attempting to create paintings that might work “for” them versus what I felt compelled to create. That plan led to very few paintings, mostly ones that only remain in progress.

This isn’t the first time that this has happened. While I don’t feel pressure to paint to trends, I do have ideas of what my creative partnerships expect from me. At times it can be hard to remove those voices from my brain and create in a way that feels pure.

But even worse than that, sometimes I imagine constraints. I put limits on myself that no one else has placed on me. For instance: “This will only work if it is large scale.” “No one wants this color palette.” “This idea isn’t strong enough.” “So-and-so won’t like this.”

I’m definitely my own harshest critic.

After feeling like this for most of the year, except when I abandoned the gallery collection to create some new work for my licensing partners — that just poured out of me, completely at ease — I made a decision. I would (finally) follow my intuition.

I wouldn’t create the gallery collection after all.

The Art of Reclaiming Your Path

Now comes the hard part. Once you decide to go in a different direction, you often have to reprogram your mindset. I’ve been lost in “what other people might think or do” for a while now, so I have to practice trusting myself again.

Maybe I can access 30-something year-old me, who would leave a job or a state at the drop of a hat and return, just as easily, a year later. The version of me who always did what I wanted to do, not caring if other people thought I was making a bad choice. Sometimes I made a bad choice. I could definitely use a bit of her energy right now. Not all of it though!

Here are some things that I’m doing to get back to myself:

• Meditation — There was a period in my life when I meditated almost every single day. I want to use that tool again. A couple of days ago I downloaded the Open app. I saw an ad for their program about becoming more confident. If you try it, it’s the Becoming Magnetic program. I’m doing a 30 day free trial — not sure if I’ll keep the app after that, but I hope to keep up the meditation practice.

• Coastal Time — If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that the place that I feel happiest, calmest, and the most myself is when I’m at, near, or in a body of water. I usually make it to my local beach at least once a week.

• Gratitude — Not gratitude journaling at the moment, just noticing moments and things that I’m grateful for when I’m going through my day. It shows me how much of my life that I appreciate, and also emphasizes how many choices I made to get here.

• Patterns — Noticing patterns in the things that I’m visually drawn to — art, books, movies, settings, designs, images…everything. This allows for a deep dive into my own taste and style.

• Free Painting — I’ll be starting this exercise this week. It’s the one I’m most afraid of and the one that is most important for my goal. To find my way back to myself, I have to spend some time creating without an end point in mind. I have to let go of any ideas of where the art will go when it is completed. If it’s ever completed. I have to paint with no external expectations. I have to paint completely, 100% for myself.

I hope this has been helpful or useful for you in some way, no matter if you’re artist or not. We all go through times when we doubt ourselves or our choices, no matter what we do for work. While your path and the things that you need to do to get back on it might be different than mine, we can find some comfort in knowing that we’re doing these things together.

Something to look forward to at the end of summer.

Next month I’ll be offering a private one-week-only art sale to subscribers of Notes From the Studio. If you’re not on the list yet, I’d love for you to join me here. This won’t be shared publicly on Substack or anywhere else — only to those who receive this newsletter in their inbox.

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I can’t wait to share what’s coming next with you. Thank you so much for being here, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer. Watch your inbox on Monday, September 15th — I’ll be back here with my special end-of-summer sale for subscribers.

— Melanie

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I hope you’re enjoying your summer so far. At the end of this month, I’m heading to St. Louis to spend some time with my husband’s family and his siblings. I’m planning to visit the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis while we’re there, in between neighborhood pools, trying new restaurants, and family time.

I’m looking forward to having some extra time with my son — even though he’ll be busy with his cousins,traveling always gives us little pockets of connection we don’t get at home. He’s a teenager now, so when we’re here, his days are full of school, friends, and routines. His presence at home feels like a quick blur. He’s growing up so fast, and I want to hold onto every minute he’ll still give me.

New Original Paintings Available

I’ve added three large-scale paintings to my Studio Collection — New Territory, Hopeful Artifact, and Departure. New Territory and Hopeful Artifact carry more structure, balanced with soft edges, while Departure leans fully into openness and serenity. Each, in its own way, embodies the spaciousness of a relaxing summer day — the same feeling I try to consistently bring to my life and share through my art.

Inspiring Me Now

• Revisiting my trip to Italy through my new blog series — Perfect Pairs. It’s a way of sharing small, curated combinations that echo a mood or a memory. Each pairing is an invitation to see how art can hold space for the stories we carry. I’ve written two posts so far: A Quiet Escape and Easy Mornings.

• Feeling deeply moved by the many tributes to Colorado’s Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson, after their death from ovarian cancer last week. They were such a bright light. I’m looking forward to seeing Come See Me in the Good Light when it releases on Apple TV+ this fall.

• This video by Winds from the album Look at the Sky. The animation by artist John Zabawa is so cool — it reminds me (in the best way) of Matisse’s paper cut-outs and this sun-dappled courtyard featuring a La Gerbe, a commission he created in the 1950s. This large ceramic piece was later donated to LACMA, which is just one more reason I need to visit Los Angeles again soon. Winds’ music, the animation, this courtyard, and L.A. all feel like never-ending summer to me.

• Speaking of California, I loved the photos in How to Create a Bohemian Modern Garden by , featuring the gorgeous garden of one of my favorite creative people, Victoria Smith.

• Obsessed with Clinamen, a meditative art installation by Céleste Boursier-Mougenot at the Bourse de Commerce in Paris. I would love to experience it in person.

Wishing you plenty of spacious days and a calm mind. Thank you for being here.

Warmly,

Melanie

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It’s a beautiful thing, the journey that art takes.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the way a painting can travel — not just across physical spaces, but into entirely new contexts. A canvas that begins in my quiet Seattle studio might later echo across a hotel lobby in another part of the world, offering a sense of calm, curiosity, or connection to someone I’ll never meet.

Today, I’m sharing the beginning of that journey with you — a first look at three new large-scale abstract paintings that are about to be licensed by Look Walls & Interiors for hospitality wallcoverings. Before they’re off into the world, I’m offering you the first chance to see them — and, if one of the paintings speaks to you, to reserve it before it returns to Seattle and is added to my gallery.

Subscriber Preview: Three New Abstract Paintings

✨ Details:

These large-scale original paintings are priced between $4300 and $4800, and I’m offering complimentary shipping within the continental U.S.

To ensure safe transport, each piece will be shipped rolled — a professional method that protects large-scale work and allows it to be stretched and framed to your preferences.

If you’d like to request detailed images of the art or have questions, just reply to this email. You’ll also have the option to reserve the painting to purchase upon its return.

Inspiration This Week

🧳 Mood Board: French Riviera

Sun-soaked tones, coastal textures, and a touch of quiet luxury.

🔗 View the blog post

📺 Currently Watching

Tapping into East Coast summer with Sirens and Revenge. Perfectly moody, beachy, and dramatic.

🎥 Creative Obsession

I’ve been completely captivated by the hypnotic videos of David Szauder. Inventive, strange, and beautiful.

🔗 Explore his work on Instagram

📚 A Beautiful Read

This Substack post by on about curating your personal canon has been lingering in my thoughts — a poetic lens on influence and identity.

🔗 Read on The Digital Meadow

As always, thank you for being here — whether you’re collecting, daydreaming, or simply soaking in something beautiful. I’m grateful to share this space with you.

Warmly,

Melanie

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Hi,

As spring unfolds, I’ve been reflecting on the shifts happening behind the scenes in my studio. Today I thought I’d share a glimpse into that and how I’m learning (again) to trust the pace and rhythm of my own process.

Finding My Way Back to Flow

I can’t speak for all artists, but for me it’s sometimes hard to get into the flow of starting a new painting collection. It feels a bit like adjusting to a new world. Like I’m stepping out of one creative realm and entering another.

Of course, it’s still me. It’s still my art. But it can be difficult to switch gears between various types of projects.

I work on my own Studio Collections, collaborations with shops and galleries, licensing projects, and client commissions. And while all of these involve me creating art, the end results often have different parameters such as specific color palettes, size limitations, or other creative boundaries. These constraints can spark fresh energy, but over time they can also seep into my subconscious and linger long after they’re needed.

Soon after launching Seeking Solace at the end of February, I moved on to my next project — a collection of large-scale paintings that I’ll be shipping to Sorelle Gallery this year. (P.S. I officially signed with this gallery in early 2025!) I’m not sure if it was because I didn’t take enough time off between collections or it was because of some health issues that I was dealing with (probably both…P.S. I’m fine), but I noticed that my energy was off in the studio, pretty much right when I started.

After a bit of time, I realized that one of my main issues with getting into the series is that I was “carrying over” too many voices from past collections, partners, and outside input. I kept telling myself the work needed to be a certain way, placing restrictions on the blank canvas before I’d even picked up a brush.

Unsurprisingly, the studio began to feel heavy. Some days I even dreaded going in. The creative spark dulled under the weight of expectations — most of which were ones I had placed on myself.

Eventually I began to dismantle those mental obstacles. I gave myself permission to return to feeling rather than forcing. Slowly, the energy shifted and the work began to breathe again.

We live in a production culture of “hurry, hurry, rush, rush” but that rhythm doesn’t suit me.

I sometimes still hear that old whisper telling me to “hurry up,” but I’m learning to let it go. Speed and external pressure have never been motivating forces for me. In fact, they tend to shut me down.

I need space. I need time. I know that about myself.

And if I ever need reminding, I look back at the painter I admire most and recall how he allowed his paintings to evolve.

When I’m in flow the work sometimes comes quickly and when it does I welcome it. But I’m also teaching myself that my natural creative pace is valuable and valid.

Custom Prints

Over the years, I’ve had collectors and designers ask about prints in sizes that aren’t available through my licensing partners. This led me to offer a By Request option for custom-sized fine art prints.

Browse my artwork and if a piece catches your eye, just reach out. I’ll work with you to create the perfect custom print for your space.

My Art Licensing page is a great place to explore to find ideas for prints! Please note that the Art Licensing option is reserved for design professionals, but you can still request prints that are listed there.

Send me the name of the artwork, the size that you’d like, and the shipping ZIP code for a quote. Let me know if you have any questions about this service.

REQUEST A PRINT

Inspiring Me Now

• Taking control of my input. Rather than spending a lot of time on endless, often anxiety-inducing scrolling, I’ve been using that energy on things like doing a deep dive on my favorite painter’s work. I’ve been reading articles and books, listening to podcasts, and studying Richard Diebenkorn's paintings in a way that almost makes me feel like I’m taking an art class from him.

• Creative activities just for fun. Like this short story creative writing exercise that I was part of on ’s wonderful newsletter.

• Celebrating 16 years of marriage with coastal time. Side note: I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since we were in Paris!

• Speaking of Paris I’m enjoying Étoile, a new show from Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino (of Gilmore Girls fame) set between New York City and Paris in the world of ballet. The atmosphere, the dancing, the cityscapes — it’s pure inspiration.

• For anyone who’s craving a fresh start or quieter space to reconnect with yourself check out AlignVent created by my dear friend Jennifer Cooper.

I’ve been quieter on social media lately, leaning into deeper studio time instead of fragmented sharing. This newsletter allows me to connect with you in a more intentional way and I’m grateful to have you here. Feel free to chat with me in the comments section or reply to this email anytime.

xo,

Melanie

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After months of painting, reflecting, and fully leaning into the duality in my work, Seeking Solace is here.

I began this collection as a celebration — of my own artistic range, of the beauty found in contrasts, of the way softness and structure can coexist on a canvas. But as our world began to shift, these paintings took on a deeper meaning.

Art has always been a place where opposites meet. Stillness and movement. Nature and architecture. Light and shadow. And lately, I’ve been thinking about another kind of duality — how we hold beauty alongside uncertainty.

Being present in a beautiful moment leaves an imprint — whether it’s traveling to a far-flung city on your bucket list or appreciating pockets of warmth from filtered sunlight on a quiet forest path in your hometown.

Living fully in these moments don’t erase the harder ones, but they offer something just as important: balance.

That’s what Seeking Solace became for me. A reminder that while we can’t control the world around us, we can often choose where we rest our gaze.

Seeking Solace weaves together fluid landscapes and architectural compositions, two sides of my work that I’ve fully embraced. Its color palette is drawn from places that have left their own quiet imprints on me — Parisian rooftops, the sun-warmed hues of Siena, the lush greens of the Pacific Northwest, the succulent gardens of the French Riviera, and the modern lines of Los Angeles.

Each of these six paintings is an invitation. To pause. To breathe. To remember your own beautiful moments that bring you back to yourself.

I’d love for you to explore Seeking Solace and see what resonates with you.

xo,

Melanie

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Art is a place where opposites can coexist — softness and structure, movement and stillness, nature and architecture. But lately I’ve been thinking about a deeper kind of duality: how we can hold beauty alongside uncertainty. I keep coming back to how solace isn’t always about escape, but finding stillness within the chaos.

My upcoming collection, Seeking Solace, is a search for the quiet, steady presence of beauty even when the world feels heavy. It embraces the interplay between fluid, abstract landscapes and architectural compositions, two sides of my work that I’ve fully leaned into. The mood boards I’m sharing today capture the essence of these paintings, weaving together the textures, colors, and emotions that shaped them.

You’ll find sneak peeks of my new paintings interwoven with imagery from places and color palettes that inspire me — Parisian rooftops, the sun-warmed hues of Siena, the organic greens of the Pacific Northwest, succulent gardens of the French Riviera, and modern architecture of Los Angeles.

As humans we often experience upheaval, whether it is personal or global. I hope this collection offers a moment to pause. A reminder that while beauty doesn’t erase pain, it can sit beside it and offer a place to rest and breathe.

The full collection will be available this month and you, Notes From the Studio subscribers, will be informed first.

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I can’t wait to share more soon. Until then, I hope these mood boards bring a sense of balance, beauty, and solace, wherever you are.

xo,

Melanie

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Thanks for reading Melanie Biehle Art! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. You’ll also receive a one-time code for 15% off any original painting in my online gallery when you subscribe.

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Hi Friends,

In some ways it already feels like a long year. It’s been hard to get started — to move into a place of creativity and inspiration. I’ve been glued to my phone way more than I’d like to be and need to come up with ways to put it down a lot more often.

From the end of November until early January I was not in my studio. This was the longest amount of time that I’ve been away from painting ever since becoming an artist! It was weird and hard sometimes.

Part of the time I was out was due to illness. My whole family got a horrible stomach virus and I had the added pleasure of fainting and hurting my ribs. I’m okay now, but it was rough for a while. Since I didn’t feel well enough to work in the studio it was the perfect time to complete a huge project that I’ve been putting off forever — redoing my entire website.

I mentioned in my last issue of Notes From The Studio that I had learned to be proud of the duality found in my art. When I created my new website, one of my goals was to truly showcase that difference and celebrate the newfound pride in the variation of my work.

If you have a chance to explore it, let me know what you think!

IN MY ARTIST’S JOURNAL

I’ve started using my Artist’s Journal more on my new website and I’m loving the process. I’m planning to spend a lot more time there and really dive deep into the entire “vibe” of my artwork through visual tools like mood boards. My first example of that is The Evolution of Wintering: How Subtle Changes In Art Can Transform A Space.

The best way for you to stay connected with what I’m sharing on my Artist’s Journal is right here in this newsletter! If you’re a not a subscriber you can sign up below.

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Here are direct links to the other stories I’ve shared so far in 2025:

Revisiting a Pivotal Collaboration: The 2020 Abstract Landscape Collection

Collector Spotlight: Seattle Real Estate Broker and Business Coach Diane Terry on Commissioning Custom Artwork

There will be a spot for my Artist’s Journal posts in each issue of Notes From The Studio so you’ll never have to miss anything.

ON MY MIND / INSPIRING ME NOW

• If you’ve been here for a while, you know how special Los Angeles is to me. It’s one of my “home” cities and a place that I return to often, literally and creatively. Seeing a city that I love face so much devastation is incredibly painful to watch. My heart goes out to all of the people, animals, and communities who suffered loss. Mutual Aid L.A. has put together a huge list of resources/ways to help.

• I’ve been thinking a lot about this quote from artist Alma Thomas:

One of my goals for the next four years — well, forever, really…as long as I am here — is to offer beauty to the world. Whether it be through my own art or sharing books/music/images/places that I’m inspired by. That’s the kind of space I plan to take up in the world.

Right now at least, there are plenty of reliable sources to find out what is going in the world. But I’m not here to regurgitate the news or share my opinion on everything that occurs. This is not to say that I don’t have opinions or vehemently disagree with so much that is happening. Or that I’m not worried. It’s just not the energy that I want to, or feel like I can, contribute.

It’s also why I have to start limiting my own screen time and the news that I consume. I want to be able to continue to be a place for you to find beauty and to keep creating the kind of art that I make. There is a lot of darkness and I can’t hold it all. I’ve seen what happens to me personally and to my work when I stay there for too long. I hope that you understand.

• Here are a few things that I’ve enjoyed lately:

  • The Husbands by Holly Gramazio: This debut novel was such a unique and fun read! I enjoyed it so much and have actually been wishing it was still the book I’m reading when I crawl into bed every night.

  • Beachtown Bohemia: A Substack newsletter celebrating coastal California from Santa Barbara based writer and illustrator Olivia Joffrey. I first learned about Olivia and discovered her wonderful stories when she had a line of caftans that served as a love letter to her mother. I’m so glad I found her!

  • The Handsome Podcast: If you’re looking for something hilarious, I can’t recommend The Handsome Podcast enough. Hosted by comedians Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin, and Tig Notaro, this podcast makes me actually enjoy my commute home from the studio. My husband and I carpool and it’s our go-to comedy escape that regularly makes me laugh out loud.

WHAT’S NEXT

I’m planning to launch my first painting collection of 2025 in February! There’s a sneak peek of a mood board featuring bits of two of them above. The next time that I email you I will have six new paintings that will be available for you to collect. Stay tuned and be sure to share this letter with a friend if you think they would be interested in my work.

Thank you so much for being here!

xo,

Melanie

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Thanks for reading Melanie Biehle Art! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. You’ll also receive a one-time code for 15% off any original painting in my online gallery when you subscribe.

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