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

Melissa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I switched from commercial art to fine art, and never looked back. I worked in agency, ran a non-profit design department and also freelanced as an art director/graphic designer for ten years. I found that it actually takes the same amount of risk to be a freelance designer as it does to run your own studio. Overall I am much happier with the work I get to do. The fulfillment I get from creating my own ideas versus someone else’s is immeasurable. As an illustrator, I always preferred to draw by hand, so my work now takes advantage of that skill and allows me to get my hands dirty. A regular job never suited me and even though this is much more work, I wouldn’t change a thing.

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

I always made art, from the day I could pick up a pencil. I studied art and design in both undergrad and graduate school, always working in a creative capacity. My primary area of focus is illustration and oil painting. In recent years, I have delved into street art and have created a few murals around New York City and Long Island. I describe my work as figurative surrealism, as my goal is to not only capture the human form, but to show how our subconscious can distort reality. My voice is very different from the work I encounter in the New York and International art scene. I pride myself on having a recognizable and unique style. I’ve been lucky enough to have an extensive exhibition record, both in the US and abroad. My work has been seen in major and local publications including British Vogue, The World of Interiors, UP Magazine, The Untitled Magazine and The Jersey Journal. I hope that my art encourages viewers and my collectors to think, seek within and find solace.

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

My path as an artist was not necessarily a linear one. My studies are primarily in design, because as a young artist, I felt it important to have a “stable” career choice. I worked up until my early 30s in advertising and created limited fine art. Later in my career I began graduate studies at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. While I was in graduate school and pregnant with my first child, I was suddenly hospitalized with pre-term labor. I held tight in the hospital for two months and as a result, dropped out of my MFA studies. When my son was born pre-term, I channeled my energy into motherhood. I spent many years as a stay-at-home parent to my son and later my daughter, after moving to New York. All while balancing motherhood and a new city, I continued to create art, but only began to exhibit in the city in 2017. During this time, my son was diagnosed with autism and I found much solace in my art creation. At the beginning of the pandemic, my exhibitions went from 2-3 per year to 30-40. My work was coming at a much steadier rate. At that point, I opened my studio and dove full-time into fine art. I’m always pleased to take both my children to exhibitions and show them that no matter what the obstacle, they can do something that brings them joy.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I love creating art and sharing my story in a visual manner. I’ve always found myself to be more visually competent than verbal. If my story and art resonates with someone, it gives me momentum to continue to explore my innermost thoughts.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mschainkerfineart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mschainkerfineart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/schainkerm
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-schainker-403b695/

Image Credits
Eugene Manning, Tahica Fredericks, Matthew Eller and Katie Godowski