We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melissa Hood a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Melissa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
When Covid 19 shut down just about everything, I was also struggling to re-find my artistic voice. I had been in a lull for a long time. I was painting but I wasn’t excited about what I was doing. I blamed my kids. I thought that since I had little kids at home, it wasn’t my time to be creative or successful. It was time to be a mom. The day after my job closed down, I went out for my daily run and as I was running I realized I was crying. Like ugly crying. A lot. In the road for anyone to see. I must have looked like a total crazy lady. I realized I was scared of the virus, but also off balance. I felt disconnected from my community. Being stuck in the house with nothing to do but wash groceries and Lysol everything was driving me nuts, and I knew I wasn’t the only one. How could I connect? I would stay up at night thinking about what could be done, and then it hit me. I could use my art to connect with others online. I used painting to start a conversation with my community.
Right away I saw that my art was receiving a positive reaction. People would DM me to say thank you for sharing something joyful. Knowing that I could make someone a little happier, even if it was just for a few minutes to enjoy a painting fueled me. Soon a new project idea was born; I would do a 100 day painting project. To get the community involved I asked for people to send me their favorite photos of the Jersey Shore. The story made it to the local newspapers and I was flooded with messages and emails. The idea came to life and thrived. I painted 100 photos from total strangers in 100 days and shared their stories along with the artworks. This created an online space for members of my community to connect through creativity and kindness.
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 back background and context?
I am a full time art teacher living in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. I have always had a love for the outdoors, creativity, and community. Not long after I began teaching, my students encouraged me to push my art further. So I went back to school to earn my MA in Studio art from NYU where I studied art in Italy and Germany. After graduating I continued teaching and began creating a large collection of paintings using markers. I was awarded several solo exhibitions with my Adirondack landscape marker painting series. In 2016 I slowed down with art after having my first son. In 2020 with two little boys on my hip I began to create on a new series of marker paintings. I kicked off my revived painting career with a 100 day painting project that led to many more creative opportunities. I immediately followed that by leading a community mural painting. Now I am focusing on mural painting and illustrating a children’s book. I find the challenge of trying new things fuels my fire. I am so excited to get my first book published.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I might be the queen of the pivot. The only thing that I have been consistent with is my medium which is paint markers. I have a very short attention span that contrasts with an intense drive. When my mind is set on a goal, I am all in and completely consumed by that goal. In college my professors told me not to teach. Many of them agreed that teaching would drain my energy and creativity and at the end of the day I would have nothing left. I have spent the past 15 years trying to prove them wrong! My secret cause is flexibility. Whenever anything bores me I know its time to switch things up. So in the classroom, with my painting career, or even at home I understand the power of the pivot.
After having my kids my art career went from the gallery to the festival. After a few years of festivals I am painting murals and in the studio working on a children’s picture book. Making changes to suit my creative and emotional needs helps me avoid burnout and keeps me excited for painting.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Did you know that looking at art for five minutes a day can change your mood? I really just want to make people happy with my art. There are plenty of problems in this world and they can really weigh you down. Its is easy to get lost in the negative. I try to make my art so over the top bright and cheery. I hope that when someone sees my art it reminds them that there is joy to be found in every plant, animal, mountain, and body of water. You can take a moment of your day to remember the world is wonderful. I want my art to challenge you to appreciate nature.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.melissaspainting.com
- Instagram: @melissahoodart
- Facebook: Melissa Hood Art
- Twitter: @melissahoodart