Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melissa Rohwer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Melissa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

As an elementary school kiddo, I was easily classified as an “oddball”. I carried around a sketchbook and pencil with me everywhere, and I was constantly prodding my parents for drawing books, fancy pens/pencils, and paint. My parent’s joked that I couldn’t leave the house without my essentials, aka sketchbook and utensil. I drew everything, from our pets, to cartoon characters, Tim Burton films, my own creatures…..and everything had a story. Along with sketches, each page had a poem, story, or blurb of how it came to be, and it’s story. Being an artist was a desire that I had since I was young……the “how”, I had absolutely no clue, but that was the dream.

Melissa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Melissa and I’m an oil painter from a teeny, tiny town surrounded by cows and farms in Wisconsin. Our home is filled and quite chaotic; my husband and I just celebrated 10 years of marriage and our 3 little boys have my heart and soul. We also have a rescue pup named Max, and two rescue kitties, Nala and Luna.

I create art to show others all emotions are valid, and that they’re not alone. The core of my work is mental health driven, and I strive for the work to be a safe space of expression, for both myself and the viewer.

I joke that I didn’t choose the dark, surreal, weird art life, but it kind of chose me! When time came to leave the town I grew up in to start the journey of college, I knew I wanted to go into the creative arts. However, counselors and many other’s that I admired discouraged me from this. I heard this phrase in many forms, “you’re not going to make money and have stability in the arts. To support a family, head towards healthcare.”

It wasn’t that far of a stretch, my amazing mother has worked as a nurse for over 40 years.; I also enjoyed and thrived in all my Anatomy & Physiology and science courses. I graduated from Viterbo with a BSN ( same alumnus as my mom) is 2014. I have no regrets about this, I have lifelong relationships that are dear to my heart. Also, my favorite thing about the time spent in college, was that I was able to take 1 art class per semester, so I was able to have a creative outlet and work on the foundations of drawing & painting.

Fast forward to 2019; working full time as a nurse and have 3 beautiful babies equated to not much time for art……and also, this is when my mental health took a hard dive. Anxiety and depression were something that waxed and waned in my body throughout my life, but it was in 2019 when my symptoms FINALLY reached a point where I had to reach out for help. I started going to therapy regularly, and the combination of this, medication, and lifestyle changes have changed my life for the better. I wish that I would’ve reached for help sooner.

It was in my first therapy session that I shared, “I wanted to be an artist, I didn’t want this life as a nurse. It’s a needed field and I respect the profession, it’s just not my heart. It’s not my love.” And my therapist said “sounds like you need to create again. Start with that, pressure free.”

And I did….I sat down and made an abstract, floral painting. And I felt my body start to heal, with each piece, each brushstroke, I found my spark again. The girl that loved to carry her sketchbook like her sleeve was ready to grow and take up space.

After I started finding my painting groove and schedule that worked for me, in my heart I wanted to paint in a darker style. It’s always been what I was drawn to. I grew up watching horror and sci-fi movies with my dad, so maybe that had an effect, HA! I wanted to paint in a way that felt authentic to my soul.

I wanted to show that, yes, there’s a darkness and weirdness out there, but that doesn’t equal bad. Being “odd” or “weird”, is also beautiful. Beauty comes in many forms, and I wanted to create that in an authentic, raw way. This is how I came to find the dark, surreal art style that I’m at now.

I had a sense of peace and clarity of what I wanted to do. The decision was made, I’m going to be an artist, and the how will figure itself out. I filed for an LLC in 2019, and 2020 we were in a position that my husband’s job allowed me to leave the nursing world, and be home with my kiddos. I now work part-time in a library and run the art business.

Eventually, I would love for art to be the 1 “job” so to speak, but we aren’t there yet, and that’s okay :) I know that it will be!

It was important to me to make artwork accessible to all income levels, so along with original pieces, I also offer archival quality fine art prints, bookmarks, stickers, merchandise,monthly subscriptions, and bundles!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The most important resource that I can think of is having a community. The life of being a creative entrepreneur can look lonely, but it doesn’t have to be, nor should it be. It took me a while to reach out and find a community of people, but I have and it’s so valuable. If you’re having a tough day or going through a difficult season, talking through it with others from a similar perspective is so comforting.

And also, human beings are meant for relationship. I’m an introvert to my core, but meeting and connecting with other artist’s and creatives is essential for success. It will also fill your heart and soul, which is really what this is all about.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I will put this in a quote…… the fact that I “currently have a degree that I’m not using.”

First of all, let me squash this belief right here. This is absolutely not true. If you have a degree in one thing, and choose to pursue something else, that is not related,is never a waste. Each person has their own path and journey in life, and that’s a beautiful thing.

Also, no one can take your education from you. If I needed to or wanted to,I could go back into healthcare, but my life is no longer there. Making a change for your mental and physical health is brave and admirable.

Also, my degree has helped me holistically grow as a person, mother, artist, etc.

Another genre of my artwork has been anatomy art, and if you’re someone who draws,sculpts, or creates figures in someway, the knowledge of musculature and anatomy is immensely helpful.

I don’t believe that any education is wasted, it’s impossible. You’ve learned and grown, that’s the bottom line. And don’t let anyone tell you, or make you feel different or less than for choosing an alternative path.

And also, it’s never too late to follow your dreams. Regardless of your age, it’s never too late to start.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mezmerizingstudios.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/@mezmerizingstudios
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mezmerizingstudios
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@mezmerizingstudios