We were lucky to catch up with Melissa Bean recently and have shared our conversation below.

Melissa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

When I was a little girl, I always wrote Artist or Teacher in my “School Days” binder on the lines “What do you want to be when you grow up?” … and I have done both all throughout my career. In college, I changed my major to art my junior year after watching an episode of Thirty Something, a show about designers in an ad agency. I was hooked to that idea, so I got my Fine Art BA in graphic design/photography and minored in Communication Arts. Ever since, I have been an art director, photographer and business owner, taught on the college level, created art pieces for galleries, sold my work in art booths and now I am also teaching art to young kids.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My artwork started years ago as a graphic designer and photographer. I love mixing words with images and now I create mixed media pieces from antique books and create layers around those texts. Each piece has a meaning behind it, sometimes the content is about current events. Teaching has also helped me dig deeper in these pieces. I have been teaching all ages, including college, since 1997. I love helping see the students solve problems that are brought to them as artists and professionals in their chosen craft. I have started teaching smaller kids and the resolve they have to solve a problem is inspiring. They go back to the drawing board when we talk about how their projects work and how to better tell their stories. I have been creating pieces for people on a commission basis, which helps preserve their memories. I take pieces they have, like a letter from a relative, and create a new piece with that cherished part of their lives. One way I help other artists is to also dig deeper into their work and go on art retreats. I have been a part of an all female artist group for the last six years who have retreated together and learn from each other. I love sharing all the gifts I have received while also sharing my own story and thoughts.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As I was just shuttering my photography business in 2019 and moving toward my goals of 2020 to set up booths at art shows with my mixed media pieces, the world shut down because of the Pandemic. And my son was at home learning, my daughter was a toddler. So I was forced to stay home. I learned quickly that Louisville loves our art community, so I applied for a small grant. I created a piece for that grant, then I applied for another grant. I received both of those with open arms, created a piece and also a journal/sketchbook with art terminology for kids. I created all the illustrations and text, then put it all together and had it printed. I was able to sell those during the Pandemic to help other parents across the country create more fun work for their kids while they too were working from home. It was one of the toughest times in my life because my Dad was also declining with dementia. He passed away in 2020, so with these grants I was able to still work and find a way to use my own brain so that the grief did not take completely over. It was a very hard time, but I made it through with the help of my family and friends.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goals have changed over the years as I have been able to check off many of the things I have wanted to do. I have had my work in shows, I have had booths with my artwork (all of 2023) and I have taught many people in the creative world. One of my goals is to help women take art retreats so that they will have rest and time to create things they don’t have time to create on a daily basis. We get so busy with life — working, family, friends — that oftentimes we neglect the most creative ideas we have… so these retreats help women get back to those ideas. In my creative journey I have been on art retreats for over ten years and have learned so much from each of these times. I had many solo retreats and residencies that have lead me to create without abandon and to get out the artwork inside that has been hiding. My goals include other people now, not just what my big dreams have always been, so that is a turn that has happened in just the last five years. It brings me joy to help others reach their creative potential and celebrate with each of them!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.melissamannbeanartwork.com
• Instagram: melissamannbeanartwork
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissamannbean/

Image Credits

Melissa Mann Bean (my own work and images)