We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Melanie Allison. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Melanie below.

Melanie , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

This past year, an artist friend via social media submitted me as a nominee for Austin Business Woman’s Artist of the Year. When the award nomination call was announced, I shared it on my Instagram story asking to be nominated. I never thought someone would submit my name, especially someone who I’ve only been friends with on the internet and have not met in person. I was then accepted as a nominee! Needless to say, after the voting process, I didn’t win or place in the Top 5, but I felt like a winner having support from my peers in the art world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have always been creative. From my early years as a kiddo taping up crayon creations to being in AP Art in high school. My creativity took me all through college, where I changed majors almost every year in art. I first wanted to be an art history professor, a photographer, and then a graphic designer, all while still studying studio art. After college, I dabbled in mixed media art, crafting altered art books, playing cards, and more. For a while, I focused on antiques and sold a little of my art, along with vintage finds, on Etsy. But after 8 years of being an online boutique, I turned to my first love: acrylic paint, and strips of magazine & vintage book pages. This evolved into what I call my “Stripped Series” during the pandemic. It’s what I’ve been doing ever since!

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Yes. I wish when I started graphic design in college, 2002-2003, to be exact, that my instructors knew how to teach us how to use programs in the Adobe Creative Suite. I think it was just bad timing because we were all green using iMac G3’s in the computer lab, students and instructors. I suffered there a little bit and didn’t really master Illustrator and InDesign until I taught myself throughout my professional career. But don’t be afraid to say you’re self-taught.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Pinterest and Instagram are huge resources for me when it comes to entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy. I encourage you to follow artists, business coaches, and business groups on Instagram. Save tutorials, advice, social media marketing, support, motivational, etc. posts to reference later. Pinterest is great for the same thing, but you can segment your pins into specific boards to keep yourself organized.

Also networking. I established Girl Flock Party as a women’s network for additional support in the Austin area. Through GFP, I have met other founders of local networking groups and collaborated with them. I’m grateful for their support and insight. Through networking, I have made so many new professional connections and friends. Networking can be scary for some that are shy, but when you find the right group, it becomes exciting and fun. You become part of something bigger than yourself. It’s a wonderful feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.melanieallisongallery.com
• Instagram: @melanieallisongallery @girlflockparty
• Facebook: Facebook.com/OfficialMelanieAllison

Image Credits
Joi Conti Photography
Set Design: Ashley Sotolongo of Lady Collective