Get to Know Me

 

I love wearing my own designs!

Hello!  I'm Malissa Melrose and I am the artist behind Melrose Originals.
 
I am an Indie Artist living in a small town outside of Dallas, Texas who enjoys painting in a variety of mixed media styles.
 
I love to create whimsical faces and colorful abstracts that invoke the joy and quirkiness I find in the world around me.  I have always been inspired by the works of great artist such as Van Gogh with his vibrant colors and unique style, Picasso's quirky cubism style, and the surrealism of Chagall. Living in a rural country area, I am also inspired by the beautiful colors of nature (I am convinced blue is a neutral because the sky is blue!), as well as the cool grungy styling of urban graffiti and the arts district when we go into the city.  I draw inspiration from all around me and love to paint in a non realistic, non refined way.  


For me there's nothing like the feel of the brushes and the paint doing their thing on the paper or canvas.  My favorite tools of the trade currently are watercolors, acrylguache, pastel chalk pencils, and India ink with a dip pen for outlining and accents, though I really love to use acrylics and get my fingers into the paints! Do fingers count as tools?!

 

I have loved to draw and paint since I could hold a crayon- as cliche as that is, but I had been painting consistently just for myself since around 2009 in my art journals and on canvas.  My husband was already on Zazzle putting his photography on postcards and shirts. He had been urging me to scan my art and join for years.  I finally figured I had nothing to lose and joined in October of 2017.
 

It has been really fun to see my art come to life from the page onto products.  You can find my original artwork on thousands of unique home decor items, electronic accessories & phone cases, wall decor, and so much more exclusively on Zazzle.

 

 When I am not painting you can find me in my garden trying to keep my plants alive, scrapbooking,  reading cozy mystery books or listening to a true crime podcast. I also love baking and cooking for my family, thrifting, decorating for the holidays, camping, going to the beach, and playing with my German Shepherd- Loki the Dog of Mischief.  I am a total nerd for everything from Jane Austen and Charles Dickens to Harry Potter and Marvel superheros.  I love meeting and talking to new people so don't be shy! Leave me a comment and let me know about you.

 

Thank you for choosing to spend some of your time here in the whimsical world of  Melrose Originals!