The Artist

Michele Pope Melina, AIS

Between Earth and Sky

Statement

"Historically, painters have been inspired by the landscape to express their feelings and emotion about nature. Since the time of John Constable and the painters of centuries thereafter, we have been aware of our precious resources through their eyes. I became an artist when I realized exactly how I could express this love that I have for my surroundings. All of the beauty in nature that I saw could be translated with brush, canvas and paint. More importantly, as I have lived in a farming community being squeezed out by urban sprawl I, too, have felt the pressure of redefining my viewpoint through painting. By remembering painters, like George Inness and the Hudson River Painters, I can appreciate their teachings through paintings to express awareness about our world. What exists between Earth and Sky are ourselves. We are caretakers of this environment and we should be examples to teach the next generation to do the same. The fragility of nature and man is the driving force that gives passionate depth and meaning to my art".

Biography

Award winning artist Michele Pope Melina grew up in the lush, beautiful landscape of Virginia's Shenadoah Valley, where she was inspired by nature and history. Michele's early artistic influences include American masters like George Inness, the Hudson River Painters, and the French painters of Impressionism and of the Barbizon School. Through vigorous self-training, Michele studied color theory and technique. Her paintings are exemplary of the style that evolved from this process, characterized by the use of bold colors to create a unique sense of drama and joy.

Whether it's an intimate still life setting in the studio or a newly charted landscape from a road trip, the importance of knowing a subject fully is paramount to Michele. Attention to accuracy helps account for the awards that she has won and for her Signature Member status with the American Impressionist Society. At the peak of her 40-year career, Michele considers herself "always a student". She continues to strive toward beauty and passionately dedicate herself to excellence.

Resume

Born: Winchester, Virginia 1951

Solo Exhibitions

Reedy Gallery, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, Minnesota, Aug. 27-Oct. 26, 2008
Reedy Gallery, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, Minnesota, Jan. 10-April 10, 2006

Competitions and Group Exhibitions

Planet Bronze Gallery, 4th Annual Small Works Show, December, 2009

    International Guild of Realism, 4th Annual Member Show, Weatherburn Gallery, Naples, Florida, 2009
    Leading Masters of Realism,International Guild of Realism, Winstanley-Roark Gallery, Dennis, MA, 2007
    Masters of the Foxhounds Traveling Exhibition, 2007, Cross Gate Gallery, Lexington, KY
    Barnsite "Barns and Farms" National Juried Exhibition, Kewaunee, WI, 2006
    Small Paintings Show, Wendt Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA, 2005
    American Impressionist Society, Taos, NM, 2005
    Lake Country Pastel Society, Burnsville, MN, 2004
    Palm Desert Museum, Palm Springs, CA, 2004
    American Impressionist Society, Vero Beach, FL, 2003
    Women Artists of the West, Dubois, Wyoming, 2003
American Impressionist Society, Morro Bay, CA 2002
    American Impressionist Society, Point Reyes, CA 2001
    Arts in Harmony, Elk River, 2000
    Oil Painters of America, Carmel CA, 2000
    Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chanhassen, MN 2000
    55^th Sioux City Juried Exhibition, Sioux City Iowa, 1999
    Lake Country Pastel Society, Edina, MN 1999
    Echoes and Visions II, Mission Viejo, CA 1998
    Byerlys Corp., Bloomington, MN 1998-1999
    Oil Painters Of America Midwestern Regional Show, Arlington Heights, Chicago, 1998
    Andersen Windows Corp. 1997-1998
    Minnesota Artists Association, Minneapolis, 1997
    Northern Lights Exhibit, White Bear Lake, Mn 1997

Awards

    Palm Desert Museum, 2004, Canson Award
    Lake Country Pastel Society, 2004, Merit
    Lake Country Pastel Society, 1999, Honorable Mention
    Minnesota Artists Association, 1997, Excellence
    Northern Lights Exhibition, 1997, Merit, Honorable Mention
    Stillwater Arts Festival, 1993, Best of Show

Memberships

    International Guild of Realism
    American Impressionist Society, Signature Member
    American Society of Marine Artists, Regular Member

Bibliography

    American Art Collector, February 2009, pg.76,78
    Chaska Herald, Chaska Minnesota, September 25, 2008, pg. 1, 16
    Southwest Newspapers, Minnesota, March 16-22, 2006, pg. 1
    Western Magazine, France, July 2003, pgs. 15-19
    Drummer Newspaper, Buffalo, MN, Dec 1994, feature story
    Drummer Newspaper,Buffalo, MN, Oct. 1992, premier feature story
    Winchester Star, Winchester, VA, August 1990

Publications

Equine Visions Magazine, Fall 2002, pg. 22
Dust in the Wind, Lake Country Pastel Society newsletter, contributing writer/Internet Resources, Oct. 1999-Jan. 2005

"Painted Bowl in a Still Life"
14"x11" Oil on Canvas
Available

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