Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Stimmell.
Hi Melanie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My love for art began at a very young age. My parents, seeing that I loved drawing, would buy me amazing marker coloring books and sets, often with animal themes and one I specifically remember being inspired by the Baroque / Marie Antoinette. It had lovely ladies in beautiful dresses and hair!!! I spent countless hours bringing those pages to life with color. These early experiences undoubtedly influence my paintings today.
However, it wasn’t until high school that I realized art could be a career. Once I decided to pursue it, my parents enrolled me in the ‘Saturday High’ program at the Art Center College of Design, a fantastic program for high school students. After that, I applied to the illustration department for my BFA, and the rest is history! I originally wanted to be a children’s book illustrator.
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 think the biggest struggle I’ve faced, and continue To face is sticking to what I really want to do. There are hundreds of opportunities that present themselves when people find out you’re an artist. lol. Sometimes they are projects that people want you to do for free or for next to nothing because ‘it’s what you love to do’. There are incredible opportunities that appear but aren’t at all related to what you want to do. And then there’s everything in between, including those projects you don’t want but you feel you have to take just for the money or the stepping stone it could become. It’s important to stay true to who you are and align with your dreams / biggest goals because the types of projects you accept are the types of projects you’ll continue to recieve. Choose wisely :)
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a fine artist and have coined my work as ‘Whimsical Surrealism,’ My paintings serve as a harmonious blend between the divine feminine and nature, weaving together dreamlike narratives that celebrate the enchanting dance between women and the natural world.
I absolutely love painting beautiful images of strong females in harmony with our natural world. One of my biggest influences is Mother Nature, but I also draw inspiration from my maternal grandmother, who was an amazing person. She was always the kindest and most positive presence, with incredible resilience and determination. I strive to embody her spirit in every one of my pieces.
In fact, my signature is a tribute to her. Whenever I sign a painting, I include a little dragonfly alongside my name. This is my homage to her, as she was an avid gardener who spent hours tending to her garden.
I am also a huge animal lover, so including amazing creatures in my work is something I truly enjoy. I aim to highlight our connection to Mother Nature and bring that reverence into my art.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Haha!! I’m all about creating fantastical images, yes – which I think you can see a lot of in my work. But I absolutely LOVE the supernatural. I listen to paranormal podcasts for hours when painting in my studio. Bigfoot, Loch Ness – I find it all fascinating. But it also lets my mind wander into interesting places :)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.melaniestimmell.com
- Instagram: @melaniesvl
- Facebook: Facebook.com/artistmelaniestimmellvanlatum
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniestimmellvanlatum
- Other: https://www.parkwestgallery.com/artist/melanie-stimmell/