Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Farris.
Hi Melanie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My paint journey started as a hobby around 2014. The last art class I had taken was in Jr. High so I started completely from scratch. I learned by watching countless youtube videos and experimenting. I began with painting mandalas and sacred geometry. I had friends and family convince me to start a social media account dedicated to my art so more people could see it. In 2018, I finally found a niche that truly spoke to me. It happened on accident by teaching myself how to properly mix paint. The more I learned and practiced, the more I fell in love with it. Painting soon became my passion. As more and more people showed interest in my work, it started selling too. & here I am, a full-time artist!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m a self-taught artist AND a self-taught small business owner. This means I have to be a jack of all trades. It is definitely a difficult and bumpy road. I have had to teach myself how to photograph my work, edit in photoshop, manage social media accounts, manage bookkeeping and inventory, learn how to write proper CVs and artist bios, manage a storefront website, and ship artwork safely, just to name a few. Managing all of the above takes serious self-discipline, especially when my only desire is to paint all day. All of the hard work is worth it in the long run because I am following my passion. Nothing good comes easy.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in acrylic paintings on canvas or wood. My main body of work is categorized as hard edge, geometric abstraction, and/or optical illusion art. I use a lot of math and geometry to make my paintings come to life. I’m a bit old school when it comes to drafting ideas so that always involves a ruler and compass. I use deep color gradients to give my work movement and depth. My paintings are often described as “vibrating.”
I am most proud of the skill and discipline that I have developed over the years. This is something I am constantly working to improve but have come a long way from when I first started painting. It only gets better from here!
My use of color is what sets me apart from others. I use a mix of bold, vivid colors alongside grayscale gradients to give my paintings movement. Colors evoke emotion and I use that to my advantage.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is being better than I was yesterday.
Contact Info:
- Email: melaniefarris.art@gmail.com
- Website: https://melaniefarris.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melaniefarris.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melaniefarris.art/
Image Credits
All photos taken by Melanie Farris
