We recently connected with Melissa Kelley and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

About 10 years ago, there was a small art gallery located near my home. I loved going in there to look at all the paintings, handmade cards, clothing, ceramics, and other items that were made by local artists. It was a great place to go and buy gifts knowing the artists lived and worked in my area. One day I met the owner and told her how much I love to paint and that being in her store gave me inspiration to create my own paintings. I was invited to bring some of my paintings to the gallery so that she could see them. I was beyond excited and very, very nervous. The owner of this sweet little gallery was and still is a very accomplished artist. Being told that my paintings would definitely sell was a huge gift to my heart. To me, it meant that she liked what she saw. After hearing that, I didn’t care if I ever sold anything. Hearing her words were a huge boost to my creativity and I wanted to keep painting.

I live on the Florida coast and many of my original paintings had a coastal feel about them. I had been experimenting with painting on glass. I painted a cute multicolored seahorse. It wasn’t a large painting, so I decided to frame it in bright orange. It was a bold choice, but I felt strongly about making it stand out.

A few weeks after hanging the seahorse in my gallery space, I received a phone call letting me know that my little multicolored seahorse had a new home and that payment would be coming my way. I don’t know who purchased it, other than it was a woman who fell in love with it when she saw it. That was my first sale. Receiving the payment for it felt fabulous. However, knowing that someone saw my art and wanted it feels like earning a million dollars. When I make a sale to this day, it always brings me back to that same feeling.

Melissa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I grew up in South Florida and still live on Florida’s east coast. It’s easy to get inspired by our beautiful beaches, sunrises and sunsets, as well by our abundant palm trees and flowers. I spend most of my time in Florida, but I also spend time in the mountains of North Carolina, where I live part time throughout the year. It is a very creative area, and I love being outside and walking through all the trees and woods. I love the creativity I get from each place.

After selling my business over 10 years ago, I started taking art classes and fell in love with painting. I was lucky to have been able to sell my art in a small local gallery near my home for almost 4 years. After the gallery closed, I focused on getting into a few festivals, hosting art gatherings at my studio and participating in art events in my hometown. Today, I have art that hangs in private homes and businesses in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland and the Bahamas. I routinely apply for and participate in local art events.

I paint mostly in acrylics and alcohol inks, but I also enjoy mixing things up with textured items like paper and glass. I paint mostly on canvas, yupo paper and mixed media paper. I am most proud of the work I do at a senior living facility. Many of the residents I teach have dexterity and mobility issues, yet they show up each time and produce beautiful art. It is both fulfilling for them and myself.

I want potential buyers to know that I don’t rush any painting that I work on. I don’t try to be like anyone other than who I am as an artist. I love creating and I have fun doing it.

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

After the local art gallery closed, I didn’t know what I should do, or what I wanted to do. I had been selling in the same space for 4 years. I didn’t know how else to sell my art. I decided to continue to create in my studio and take more art classes. At the same time, I needed to learn more about getting my art noticed on social media. It also forced me to go outside my comfort zone and apply for local art festivals. I started teaching classes at my studio and teaching at a senior living facility. I also applied and participated in several local art events. All of these things pushed me to do things that I didn’t know how to do. It’s not always easy pushing yourself to learn new things. I am a better artist and a better person for marching ahead instead of staying in one place.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I think what drives my creative journey is that I love to create. I love to paint. I love blending colors. I daydream about colors that I can blend together to create new colors. I love experimenting with color and texture. When I create a piece of art, I am then able to share that art with others. All of these things drive me to keep creating. It’s part of who I am.

Contact Info:

• Website: melissakelleyart.com
• Instagram: @melkelley
• Other: email: [email protected]