We recently connected with Melanie Dockery and have shared our conversation below.
Melanie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later?
My answer is no—I believe
everything happened exactly when it was supposed to. For many years, my focus wasn’t on
building a business; it was on building a family. As a military wife, my husband was often away, and
I made a conscious decision to be present for my children. Raising my family was my priority, and I
don’t regret a single moment of it. Being available for my children, supporting their activities,
creating stability at home, and making sure they had what they needed was one of the most
important jobs I have ever had. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t creative during those years.
Creativity
has always been a part of who I am. I operated a daycare from my home, caring for children and
supporting families in my community. Through that work, I was still able to pour into others, create
meaningful experiences, and use my artistic gifts in different ways. I was serving, teaching,
encouraging, and creating long before I officially called myself an entrepreneur. When my youngest
child graduated in 2016, a new season of life began. For the first time in many years, I had the
opportunity to focus on the dreams that had been quietly waiting inside of me. What some people
might call “starting late,” I viewed as perfect timing. I had gained life experience, confidence,
patience, and a deeper understanding of who I was. That was when I truly began to spread my
wings and share my creativity with the world. I took a leap of faith and embraced what had always
been inside me—the artist, the creator, and the entrepreneur. Today, through Creative Arts by
Melanie LLC, I have the opportunity to create artwork, teach others, host paint experiences, and
use art as a form of therapy and connection. Looking back, I wouldn’t change the timing. My family
needed me when they were growing up, and I needed those years to grow as a person. The
experiences I gained as a wife, mother, caregiver, and community supporter helped shape the artist
and business owner I am today. So, do I wish I had started sooner? No. I believe I started exactly
when I was meant to. And because of that, I can fully appreciate the journey that brought me here.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
My name is Melanie Dockery, founder and creative force behind Creative Arts by Melanie LLC. At
my core, I am a creator, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, an entrepreneur, and a woman who
believes deeply in faith, family, kindness, and service to others. I was raised by parents who taught
me the importance of morals, integrity, respect, compassion, and treating people the way you want
to be treated. They taught me that if you are blessed, you should be willing to bless someone else.
That lesson has stayed with me throughout my life. I genuinely care about people and want to see
others succeed. If I can encourage someone, help someone, or brighten someone’s day, then that
is the icing on the cake for me. I also learned that strength and kindness can exist together. My
parents taught me to stand firm in my beliefs, be confident, be bold, and know my worth, while
always remaining respectful. I believe you can be strong without being unkind. Life has taught me
that you may cross paths with people more than once, so I try to treat everyone with dignity and
grace. I am naturally observant and thoughtful. I enjoy learning from people, experiences, and the
world around me. Those observations often inspire both my artwork and the way I connect with
others. I believe everyone has a story worth hearing, and I try to approach life with an open heart
and an open mind. I am also fun-loving, free-spirited, and full of positive energy. I love gardening,
music, spending time with family, and finding reasons to laugh. Comedy has always been one of my
favorite forms of entertainment. I grew up watching classics like I Love Lucy, Good Times, The
Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, and later Martin. Laughter brings people together, and I believe joy is
one of life’s greatest gifts. I enjoy spreading sunshine wherever I go and creating positive
experiences for those around me. Creativity has been a part of my life for as long as I can
remember. Growing up in Marston, North Carolina, I was always creating something. Whether I was
sketching in school, designing roads and communities in the yard with my Hot Wheels, making
clothes for my dolls, helping style my mother’s hair, creating handmade decorations, or finding new
ways to express myself, creativity was always present. Looking back, I can see that I have always
been a creator at heart. For many years, my focus was on raising my family and supporting others.
As a military wife, I understood the importance of sacrifice, flexibility, and being present. I operated
a home daycare for many years, which allowed me to care for my children while also serving other
families in my community. Those experiences taught me patience, leadership, compassion, and the
value of creating environments where people feel supported and encouraged. When my youngest
child graduated in 2016, I entered a new season of life. It was finally my opportunity to pursue the
dreams and creativity that had always lived inside me. What some may consider a late start, I
consider perfect timing. The life experiences I gained as a wife, mother, caregiver, and community
supporter helped shape the artist, educator, and entrepreneur I am today. Today, through Creative
Arts by Melanie LLC, I create vibrant contemporary artwork, lead paint parties, host pop-up art
experiences, facilitate team-building workshops, teach private and group art lessons, offer
pre-drawn canvas kits, and create opportunities for people of all ages to experience the joy of
creativity. My studio is located at Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment in Huntsville, Alabama, where I
have the privilege of sharing my passion with visitors from all over the country. What makes my
work unique is that I do not limit creativity to traditional methods. I often create abstract
mixed-media artwork using nontraditional tools such as cardboard, scrapers, rulers, cotton balls,
rope, pinecones, bubble wrap, and other everyday objects. My goal is to show people that creativity
has no boundaries and that art is accessible to everyone. One of the greatest challenges I help
people overcome is the belief that they are not creative. Many people walk into my studio convinced
they cannot paint or create. By the end of their experience, they leave feeling confident,
accomplished, and inspired. That transformation is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. My
philosophy is simple: Art is to express, not to stress. I am most proud of the impact my work has on
others. Whether I am creating a commissioned piece, leading a paint party, teaching a child,
working with adults, or supporting a community event, my mission is to use art as a form of
expression, therapy, and connection. I want people to feel seen, encouraged, and empowered
through creativity. At its core, Creative Arts by Melanie is more than an art business. It is a space
where people can create freely, build confidence, explore their imagination, and discover that
creativity already exists within them. My goal is not simply to create beautiful art, but to create
meaningful experiences that leave a lasting impact. I believe that creativity is a gift, service is a
blessing, and every person has the ability to create something meaningful. If I can inspire someone
to believe in themselves, embrace their creativity, or simply leave with a smile, then I know I have fulfilled my purpose.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Absolutely. At this stage in my life, my creative journey is driven by the desire to make a positive
impact on others. I have always believed that we all have gifts, and I believe one of my gifts is the
ability to encourage, inspire, and connect with people through creativity. One of the things that
motivates me most is helping people discover something within themselves that they may not have
realized was there. I have met children, adults, and seniors who were convinced they weren’t
creative, only to watch them surprise themselves when given the opportunity to create. Seeing that
spark of confidence, accomplishment, and joy is incredibly rewarding. My mission is not simply to
create artwork. It is to create opportunities for people to slow down, enjoy the moment, and
experience the satisfaction that comes from creating something with their own hands. In a world
that often feels rushed and overwhelming, creativity can provide a sense of peace, self-expression,
and connection. As I continue this journey, my goal is to reach more people, serve my community,
and create experiences that are meaningful, welcoming, and inspiring. Whether someone attends a
paint party, visits my studio, participates in a workshop, or purchases a piece of artwork, I want
them to leave feeling encouraged and empowered. For me, success is not measured solely by the
artwork I create. It is measured by the confidence I help build, the connections I help foster, and the
positive impact I can make through creativity. If someone leaves an experience with me feeling
inspired, more confident, or simply a little happier than when they arrived, then I feel I have accomplished exactly what I set out to do.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing the impact creativity can have on
people. While I enjoy creating artwork, what brings me the greatest fulfillment is watching others
discover confidence, joy, and a sense of accomplishment through the creative process. One of the
most rewarding experiences I’ve had as an artist was speaking to a group of high school girls about
confidence, creativity, and having the courage to be yourself. During the event, we created a simple
abstract painting together. While most of the girls jumped right in, there were a few who chose not
to participate at first. Rather than pressuring them, I gave them the space to simply observe and
engage when they felt comfortable. I’ve learned that creativity looks different for everyone, and
sometimes people need time before they’re ready to step forward. As the event continued and the
atmosphere became more relaxed and welcoming, those same girls gradually joined in. They
began creating, interacting, and expressing themselves in their own way. Watching that
transformation was incredibly meaningful to me. It reminded me that people flourish when they feel
accepted rather than judged. Moments like that are what make being an artist so rewarding. It’s not
always about the finished artwork. It’s about creating a space where people feel comfortable
enough to be themselves, explore their creativity, and gain confidence in the process. We live in a
world that often feels structured, demanding, and full of expectations. One of my greatest joys is
providing an environment where people can step away from that pressure, let their guard down, and
create freely. When someone feels safe enough to express themselves without fear of judgment,
that’s when something truly special happens. At the end of the day, the most rewarding part is
knowing that something I created or an experience I facilitated made a positive difference in
someone’s life. Whether that impact is big or small, knowing that I helped bring a little more joy,
confidence, inspiration, or connection into the world is what makes this journey so meaningful to me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: creativeartsby_melaniellc
- Facebook: @CreativeArtsbyMelanie.net
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/melanie-c-dockery-336b6168
- Other: TikTok: @melaniedockery8
Image Credits
My wonderful and supportive husband Marius D. Dockery
The photo with me looking out the window in the pink shirt was taken Corian Moore – The Gumbo Network