"Inside Out" summer art show

Melynda’s new work is focused on inner landscapes, unseen realities and spiritual explorations. Melynda shares, “I’m endlessly fascinated with journeys-the journey each of us takes as we discover the path we were created to walk in life. I enjoy painting as I journey. The paintings are a brief glimpse in vivid color of my own experiences, emotions and prayers. My biggest challenge has been to allow myself to paint the good… and the difficult, the beautiful… and the painful-to allow the breadth of my life to find its way onto the canvas.”

This was the description for my solo summer show “Inside Out,” featuring my newest abstract and conceptual acrylic paintings. The show was held July 28 through August 25, 2009 at the new Studio 201 above the Galerie of Pella. The opening was such a great night- so wonderful to have so many people come out to see the show. I love to hear the feedback and watch as everyone absorbs the show.

New Day

It's a new day and time for a new blogging home. This will be my new place for encouraging fellow artists with a special emphasis on exploring the edges between faith and art. I'm so excited to share with you some of the new journeys and the many books, websites, and experiences that have inspired and encouraged me. If you are interested in my past blog, feel free to visit Scrapbook with Passion. It's not that I'm not scrapbooking anymore- I still enjoy keeping my family stories and photos and journeys. Scrapbooking has been a great hobby for me as I was raising my young children and a natural fit as an industry to begin sharing my fine art. But, over the last few years my work has continued to blossom and grow into new areas.


I've been peering deep inside the hazy recesses of my heart and life.


I'm ready to acknowledge what is really inside and has been longing to break forth.


I've got criss-crossed, messed up, slowed down, and tripped up on this journey. (I never was known for my coordination!)


I've tried to hide, force it all to stay inside-to stay safe.


I've been climbing up this mountain one step at a time. Encountering much change and transformation along the journey. I'm sure I'm going to loose my footing again, get scared about falling and maybe even ask myself again and again why I started up this mountain in the first place. But, I'll never regret it-never be ashamed of reaching deep for who I am to be in this world.
Can't wait to get everything that has been rolling around in my brain and heart here on the blog.