The Artist

Michele Pope Melina

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 Barbizon School and Hudson River 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 35-year career, Michele considers herself "always a student". She continues to strive toward beauty and passionately dedicate herself to excellence.

Statement

"Many years ago 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. The farming community where I have lived and painted has adapted to changes, like many other communities, to address issues brought on by growth and progress. I cannot help but be so involved in the plight of our changing landscape, when the mighty bulldozer awaits down the road to plow under another farm, gone forever from our sight and memory. Or when a community can turn it's back upon violations of a river. It’s a way of life that will, soon, no longer be and we must manage like the wetlands that have been reduced to a mere pond in between rows of houses that look alike. The fragility of nature and man is the driving force that gives passionate depth and meaning to my art".

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

International Guild of Realism, Winstanley-Roark Fine Art 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 Springs 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 Springs 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

Publications

Southwest Newspapers, Minnesota, March 16-22, 2006

Western Magazine, France, July 2003

Equine Visions Magazine, Fall 2002

Drummer Newspaper, Buffalo, MN, Dec 1994

Drummer Newspaper,Buffalo, MN, Oct. 1992

Winchester Star, Winchester, VA, August 1990

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