Melanie graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Interior Design. She went on to have a successful career as a designer for a major architectural firm and an educator with a local independent school district. Melanie now spends her time painting wildlife art, quilting, and raising her two children with her husband Mike. Her inspiration comes from the animals themselves as she captures a moment in time. She travels all over to capture images of the animals she will paint later in her studio.
" I really enjoy bringing the animals to life in my paintings and quilts. I aspire to create an image where people appreciate the beauty of the animal and feel motivated to preserve that beauty for future generations."
Published in Southwest Art, Quilting Arts, International Quilt Festival Quilt Scene, Quilters Newsletter and many others.
SHOWS AND AWARDS
- Spring 2022 - AQS Quiltweek - Daytona Beach, Branson, & Paducah
- Spring 2022- Gems of the Ocean III
- Winter 2022- Galveston Art League Juried Show
- Fall 2020 - Quilt Visions 2020
- Fall 2020 - Texas Quilt Museum "Flying High: For the Love of Birds"
- Spring 2020 - AQS Paducah
- Winter 2020- AQS Quiltweek - Daytona Beach
- Summer 2019-2020- SAQA Touring Texas Trunk Show
- Winter 2020 - Gems of the Ocean II
- Fall 2019- "Quilts: A World of Beauty" IQA, (2 Quilts)
- Fall 2019- AQS Quiltweek Paducah (2 Quilts)
- Fall 2019- "International Quilt & Fiber Arts Festival"
- Summer- Fall 2019- "Evolutions" 2019 at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
- Fall 2018-2019- "Season After Season" Texas Quilt Museum
- Spring 2018- SAQA "TEXtiles"
- Fall 2017-2018- " Made in Texas" at the Texas Quilt Museum
- 2017-2018- SAQA "Texas Quilts: Art in Stitch"
- Fall 2017- International Quilt Festival "Tactile Architecture"
- Fall 2016- Gems of the Ocean
- Fall 2016- International Quilt Festival juried shows, "Quilts: A World of Beauty" (2) , and "Tactile Architecture"
- Spring 2016 - Quilt Alliance, "Playing Favorites" Exhibition
- Spring 2016- "Concrete and Grasslands" Exhibit , Grants Pass Museum of Art
- Winter 2015-2016 - "From Insects to Elephants" Exhibit, Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts
- Fall 2015- International Quilt Festival juried show, "Quilts: A World of Beauty"
- Spring 2015- Quilt Alliance, "Animals We Love", Honorable Mention
- Winter 2015- Galveston Art League, juried show, First Place
- Fall 2014 - International Quilt Festival juried show, "Quilts: A World of Beauty"
- 2014-2015 - Texas Quilt Museum, juried show "Butterflies and Their Beautiful Kin"
- 2014 - 2016- Studio Art Quilt Associates, "Texas Experience", Anniversary Trunk Show
- Fall 2013 - International Quilt Festival juried show, "Quilts: A World of Beauty"
- Fall 2013 - Galveston Art League juried show, Second Place
- Winter 2012 - Galveston Art League juried show, First Place
- Fall 2011 - International Quilt Festival juried show, "Quilts: A World of Beauty"
- Winter 2011 - Galveston Art League juried show
- Fall 2010 - International Quilt Festival juried show, "Quilts: A World of Beauty"
- Fall 2009 - International Quilt Festival juried show, "Quilts: A World of Beauty"
- 2009 - 2010- San Jacinto Art Show, Second and Third Place, & NSA, Honorable Mention, National Society of Artist Juried Show
- Fall 2008 - International Quilt Festival juried show, "Quilts: A World of Beauty"
- 2008 - San Jacinto Art Show, Best of Show & First Place, & NSA juried show
- 2007 - National Society of Artists juried shows, First Place and Third Place, San Jacinto Art Show Second and Third Place
- 2006 - Houston Civic Artists Association, First Place, Third Place, Honorable Mention