Ethereal Acrylics: Meet Painter Melanie London

Written by Artie The Panda

Melanie London's artistic journey has been a winding path. For years, her personal artistic pursuits took a back seat as she navigated a successful career in the fashion world, first as a fashion coordinator and design director in the shoe and accessory industry, and later as a photo stylist and production coordinator. These roles served as a wellspring of inspiration, surrounding Melanie with creative minds that would eventually fuel her own artistic renaissance.

Luminous Landscapes

Melanie's acrylic paintings are portals to otherworldly realms, inviting viewers to lose themselves in cosmic landscapes and divinities that offer healing through their sheer beauty. She describes her piece "Creation," showcased above, as "color and energy swirling and making way for what is next ... the beginning of something new from the void." In a similar vein, both "Introspection" and "Enlightenment," displayed below, are intended to lead each viewer to understand their true self. Each of Melanie's works is a labor of love, built up through washes and overlays, resulting in depth that seems to transcend the canvas itself.

Big Apple to Blue Ridge

Though her roots reach deep into the concrete jungle of New York City, Melanie has transplanted herself to the small, vibrant town of Weaverville, North Carolina, near eclectic Asheville. Her original artworks remain unframed, allowing buyers to personalize their presentation. "But I always encourage my clients to go to Frame Destination for the best variety and quality of frames," she notes. We're certainly not arguing with that sage advice, Melanie!

See More of Melanie’s Work

Journey over to MelanieLondonArts.com to discover vivid celestial spaces meant to evoke a sense of communion. Curious which two approaches Melanie uses to combat creative blocks and which tools she can’t live without? (Hint: They aren’t tangible.) Find out in our Q&A below.

Now for Artie’s Eight Q&A with Melanie London…

1. What is your background; how did you get started?
Drawing has been a serious pastime for me since I was very young. After attending the Atlanta College of Art, I returned to my hometown of New York City and earned a degree in Fashion Merchandising. I then embarked on a career in the accessory industry. My artistic ambitions were sidelined but not completely lost, with periods of progress every few years. In 2018, I began a series of colorful abstract works that were completely new to me. Since then, I have been developing and expanding on this style.

2. What role do you think the artist plays in society?
I think of the artist as someone who can reflect society. Our job is to move, stir, or inspire the viewer.

3. What has been a formative experience or the best advice you’ve received within your career?
To keep working through frustration and dissatisfaction.

4. In what ways does your work reflect your personality?
My work has a personal and spiritual component. I hope to bring healing through beauty to the viewer.

5. Creative blocks, do you get them? If so, how do you overcome them?
Yes. Sometimes, take a break. Other times, just keep working until an opportunity arises for something new and unexpected.

6. What is your most indispensable tool? (Not counting the obvious, like paints, brushes, canvas, camera, etc.)
Self-reflection and meditation.

7. Do you have a new project you are working on, or a new passionate idea?
Putting my website together was a labor of love and required a lot of help. I am working on increasing my visibility at local galleries, online, and wherever possible. Always a work in progress.

8. What is your favorite color to incorporate into your art?
I like the cool spectrum: blue, purple, and green.

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Last updated October 8, 2024