Collector Spotlight: How My Art Supports Healers Featuring Dr. Merry Jennifer Markham, Oncologist
Art Collector Merry Jennifer Markham traveling with her daughter.
“I have been a longtime follower of Melanie on Instagram. When she posted an image of one of her latest original works at the time, I reached out to her and made arrangements to purchase the painting. Her paintings are gorgeous, and this piece just called to me. She shipped it all the way across the country to me in Florida, and it arrived in perfect condition as it had been packed with great care. The painting hangs in a prominent spot in my living room and it remains one of my favorite purchases for my home.”
Healing Professionals Who Collect My Art
Child psychiatrist. Cardiologist. Oncologist. Dentist. Surgeon. Nurse practitioner. Therapist. These are just a few of the healing professionals who have brought my art into their homes and offices.
As someone who has always been deeply connected to the healing profession, this truly means the world to me. I studied psychology in college with the goal of earning a PhD in clinical psychology and eventually opening a private practice. After completing my Masters, I realized I wasn’t ready to continue in that path. I worked in various roles in the field, but eventually, I understood that I wasn’t emotionally equipped to be in a profession where I felt so deeply connected to the people I worked with. I didn’t yet know the term “empath,” but I was feeling the weight of every client’s story.
After moving on from clinical work, I ventured into pharmaceutical research in Atlanta, clinical research in Seattle, market research in Redmond, and movie marketing in Hollywood. Then, in an unexpected twist, I became a painter. Along the way, I became a wife, a mother, a writer, a photographer, and a graphic designer—those are other stories, of course.
There have been moments when I’ve questioned if painting is “enough” in a world full of challenges. But then I realized something incredibly important.
My art helps the helpers.
And in that realization, I knew, without a doubt, that painting is more than enough. It’s needed. Art is necessary.
Today, I’m honored to share the story of one of the healers who brought my work into her life — Dr. Merry Jennifer Markham, Oncologist and Travel Advisor at MMarkham Travel.
When I realized that my art seems to be especially appealing to those who are helping to heal other people, that made such a strong impact on me. Will you tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?
I live in Florida with my husband - my high school sweetheart - and our two teenagers. I work as a medical oncologist in an academic medical center, and my practice is focused on caring for women with gynecologic cancers. I initially studied psychology in college, but after working in an oncologist's office before attending medical school, I knew that I had to work with people with cancer in my career. I love my work, and caring for women with cancer from the time of their diagnosis throughout their entire cancer journey has been an amazing privilege.
In addition to your career in medicine, you’re also healing people in a different way through your travel agency, MMarkham Travel. What led you on this journey?
Like many oncologists, I have a clear appreciation for the uncertainty that life brings and a strong need to live each day as if it were one of my last. I've approached our family vacations with this in mind, never hesitating to make memories through travel whenever possible.
One common theme among many of my patients who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis is regret about things not done during their life, and so many regret not having made time to travel and spend time with their families. When all possibility of travel went away during the first part of the pandemic, I felt grief over this loss and I realized that for many of my patients, their chance of traveling was over, for many reasons.
I started MMarkham Travel out of this desire to help others find joy and meaning through the experience of travel. The memories made through travel are priceless, and it's even more clear to me -- especially after so much loss due to the pandemic -- that we must prioritize spending time in places and with people we love.
Travel is a huge influence on my work and well-being. I regularly find inspiration in aerial views from airplane window seats, and collect color palettes and soak up the creative energy of cities and seas. Even following my curiosity and being open to detours when things don’t go exactly as planned on a trip can feel similar to the process of creating an abstract painting. What do you hope that people keep in mind as they travel?
Oh, exactly that. Travel rarely goes exactly as planned, especially lately. It's often hard for people to not feel frustrated when a tour is cancelled or a restaurant they had their heart set on is closed. I encourage a shift in mindset. These hiccups can often be opportunities to explore a new area, try a great local restaurant, and just relish being in a different location surrounded by different sights and sounds. This takes practice and isn't always easy, but oh, it makes travel so much more rewarding. I traveled to Paris before the pandemic and there were city-wide strikes impacting the metro. I took it as an opportunity to walk more and see things I would have normally missed in my hurry to get from one place to another.
You added my 2021 painting, Clearing, to your art collection. What drew you to this piece? How does it make you feel?
When you first posted the image of Clearing on Instagram, something about it just got my attention immediately. I stopped scrolling and kept returning to your post later on that day. I think I messaged you the same day (or very soon after) you posted it. I can't say exactly what it was about the painting that drew me in, but I recall having feelings of hopefulness and optimism when I saw it. The painting is even more beautiful in person, and I still feel those emotions when I look at it. I won't ever part with it.
Thank you so much for your time, Merry Jennifer!
Read more Art Collector Spotlight posts here.
If you’re searching for the perfect piece of original art for your home, please visit my gallery. Want to learn more about creating a custom original painting? Learn about my commission process here.