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Melissa Leslie
www.mlovestudio.com
mlovestudio@gmail.com
I started creating when I was young and was encouraged to paint and draw by my whole family. As every day unfolds, there so many opportunities for the mind to bend, twist, reform, change or morph into the unknown. Visions, dreams, infatuations and obsessions intertwine in my efforts to interpret my inner world. I fell in love with art before I even knew it existed – the walls of my mother’s womb were covered with my very first tribal drawings. Ever since I could hold a crayon I knew that I would become an artist.
I believe that my skills as an artists are a blessed gift from God and many of my works derive from my own visions and thoughts about the messages and wisdom of the Bible. For me, art is an extension of, and influenced by the spiritual realm. An artist can either look for inspiration from the dark side or from the light.
The works on this page are examples of a prolific portfolio that I have created over the years. I work with in genre possible; from Contemporary Abstract to Realism, to Urban- in paint, sculpture or mixed media. I love the challenges to express myself differently in each medium and I look forward each time to new experimentations so that I can learn and improve my art. I am excited to discover the new ways that the oils, in particular, mix and react to different materials. I generally begin by applying a loose first layer, sometimes thinly, sometimes very thickly and messily- and then the canvas seizes me. It is a process similar to two dancers, who begin the dance barely knowing each other. Step after step, they become more coordinated and harmonious in their movements, they are at one with the music-until finally the dance bursts into crescendo, a beautiful array of colors and the canvas is complete.
I work on several series at a time, so that I am able to nurture my passion for different genres. I pray a lot and I read the Bible for inspiration. My works may be inspired by scripture or by sermons or even by documentary films on important topics that concern the well being of the planet and our place upon it. I could probably write a few pages about every piece I create to explain to the viewer the rhyme and reason behind it – the deeper meaning that motivated me to do it.
One of my latest series is about the strengths of women. I want to show how women constantly rise up above the trials and how we overcome the challenges life throws at us.
Like most teenagers Melissa went through her rebellious period, but throughout her life she has been greatly influenced by her father’s dedication to doing the “job well” -whatever the job. His insistence of maintaining high standards of craftsmanship has passed on to her. She strives for perfection in each piece, starting with the care with which she primes the raw canvas, the stretching, the execution of the art itself, the framing and even the preparation of the delivery. The labor in each step is done with enthusiasm, love and respect and she is grateful to her father that he was able to instill this in her.
Melissa Leslie thanks her parents for their constant support. She believes that through their patience and understanding she has been able to pursue her passion for art. She believes, firmly, that her artistic talents and skills are a gift from God and that Jesus Christ is the rock upon which she will lead her life.
“God has been good to me. Although I have made mistakes in my life, He pours out His blessings and refines me daily. I can’t stress enough the beauty heaven has to offer. I get a lot of love as well as hate because of my faith, but it makes no difference –love always prevails.”
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* None of the artworks may be copied or reproduced without the written permission of the Artist