Melissa McClellan

Studio Channel Islands 2222 E Ventura Blvd CA 93010 (407) 921-9898 mjmstudio18@gmail.com

 

Growing up in rural Florida I was always in the woods or in, or on, the water. I think my love for the natural world began there. The blue, blue sky above, the sun reflecting off water, the earth from which all things grow became part of my creative library.  I come from a big family that spent a good deal of time in the making of things. For the home, out of necessity, and for others out of love. From that I gained an understanding of the process of  conception, creation, and then letting go of what has been created.  I have been a professional artist since 1995 after leaving a much loved career in horticulture. That background, and a deep appreciation for the natural world, continue to inspire my work to this day.  I exhibited my work employing stone, glass and metal at festivals, galleries, art centers and regional  museums throughout the Southeastern United States until coming to California in 2010. After a brief hiatus, I joined Studio Channel Islands  as an artist in residence. Once there I continued to develop my work using primarily paint and paper and canvas. Currently, I am further exploring the possibilities of those materials with the addition of photography, collage and found materials

Through the creation of art, I look for the evidence of  our connection to each other and to present an opportunity for the viewer to connect to something vital within themselves. In this endeavor, I have employed diverse materials such as photographs, stone, glass, metal, wood, paper, canvas, paint, charcoal fiber, graphite, and found objects. It is part of my journey as an artist, exploring these materials to find just the right ways to communicate a particular idea or emotion. Regardless, color, form, line, and texture have been my constant companions along the way. For me, they are the bass notes I use to compose my work.

Education

I learn best with my hands and eyes, by doing and exploring; and I have had the opportunity to learn from several accomplished artists:

I have studied sculpture at Montoya Studios in West Palm Beach, FL and kiln-forming glass with Newey Fagan in Cocoa, FL.

Then, as I began to move toward employing more color in my work, I studied painting with Ummarid Eitharong in Orlando, FL.

I graduated from Valencia College in Orlando, FL with a degree in Horticulture.

Exhibitions

1999 Juried Exhibition – Art Orlando

2000 The Art of Melissa McClellan – Osceola Center for the Arts

2000 All in the Family – Maitland Art Center

2001 Upstairs Downstairs – DeLand Museum of Art

2002 Sculpture Invitational – DeLand Museum of Art

2003 Juried Exhibition – Art Orlando

2005 2D x 3D x 5 – Ormond Memorial Art Museum

2005 Dinner with the Artist – Maitland Art Center

2005 Art in the Garden – EPCOT Orlando

2006 Feeling Color – The Art League of Daytona Beach

2006 Art in the Garden – EPCOT Orlando2007 Art in the Garden – EPCOT Orlando

2008 Annual Juried Exhibition – DeLand Museum of Art

2009 Art Soup – Maitland Art Center

2017 Collector’s Choice – Blackboard Gallery Studio Channel Islands

2018 The Next Big Thing Blackboard Gallery Studio Channel Islands

Exhibitions (continued)

2018 Collector’s Choice – Blackboard Gallery Studio Channel Islands

2019 Collector’s Choice – Blackboard Gallery Studio Channel Islands

2020 The Next Big Thing Blackboard Gallery Studio Channel Islands

2021 Collector’s Choice – Blackboard Gallery Studio Channel Islands

2021The Next Big Thing Blackboard Gallery Studio Channel Islands

Awards

Osceola Art Festival – Kissimmee, FL

Palm Harbor Festival of the Arts – Palm Harbor, FL

Space Coast Art Festival – Cocoa Beach, FL

Maitland Rotary Art Festival – Maitland, FL

Taste of Oviedo Art Festival – Oviedo, FL

Temple Terrace Arts Festival – Temple Terrace, FL

Melbourne Art Festival – Melbourne, FL

Festival of the Masters – Lake Buena Vista, FL

Craft Art Florida Craftsmen – Tampa, FL

Reston Arts Festival – Reston, VA

Temple Beth El Invitational – Cleveland, OH

EPCOT Art in the Garden – Orlando, FL

Public Collections

City of Orlando – Orlando, FL

Maitland Art Center – Maitland, FL

Walt Disney World – Orlando, FL

The Collage Companies – Lake Mary, FL

DeLand Museum of Art – DeLand, FL

The Raymond James Foundation – Tampa, FL

Private Collections (abbreviated list)

Kenneth McKishnie – Ocoee, FL

Sid and Fran Lasky – Cleveland, OH

Lisa and Perry Everett – St. Petersburg, FL

Becky and David Ramsey – Tampa, FL

Major Commissions

Betty and Aurum Fingeret – Reston, VA

Guy and Cathy Custar – Little Rock, AR

Kenneth McKishnie – Ocoee, FL

Larry and Donna Frost – Clearwater, FL

Mike and Linda Polonus – Maitland, FL

Kelly and Curt Gilbert -Port Hueneme, CA