Current Mood: Emerge

Jan 11, 2018 | Creative Process, Fine Art, My Creative Journey, Painting

The painting comes to me. The mood. The color palette. The idea. The mark making. The story. Images are gathered – mentally and physically. Patterns are noticed. Colors stand out. Thoughts occur as marks are made. The energy informs the painting. The painting informs... Read More

2018 Phrase of the Year: From Within

Dec 29, 2017 | Creative Process, Fine Art, Mindfulness, My Creative Journey, My Life

Happy New Year! I’ll get to my 2018 phrase of the year soon. There’s a lot to share, so I’m just going to jump right in! Lately I’ve been thinking more deeply about the spiritual, mindful, “woo woo” things I’ve been studying... Read More

In My Sketchbook: Fall 2017

Dec 7, 2017 | Creative Process, Fine Art, My Creative Journey, Sketchbook

I spend a lot of time working in my sketchbook. My sketchbook pages are full of thoughts, connections, and ideas for themes to explore in my paintings. I use it to get an idea of what my abstractions could look like at a larger scale. My sketchbook is one of my most... Read More

Art Challenge: Paint Big

Sep 27, 2017 | Creative Process, Fine Art, My Creative Journey, Painting

In a way, I feel like my whole twisty path to becoming an artist has been one big challenge. But since I’ve gained skills, explored a lot of mediums, styles, and materials, and built-up confidence in my work, now I’m addressing more specific challenges.... Read More

Sharing My Artist Journey on Instagram: #MB_AtoZ

Jul 12, 2017 | Creative Process, Creative Projects, My Creative Journey, Storytelling

Good morning! I wanted to share a new Instagram hashtag project that I just started working on this week: #MB_AtoZ. I created this exercise to practice writing about my art, creative process, personal artistic journey, and the inspiration behind my artwork. I’ve... Read More

Breaking the Cycle

Jun 23, 2017 | Creative People, Creative Process, Creative Strategy, Illustration, Mindfulness, My Creative Journey, Painting, Storytelling, Surface Design

I’m going through a turning point. A few weeks before the upheaval (that ended with a crying/rambling session on my staircase), I started feeling like I’ve been on autopilot – doing things the same way just because that’s what I’ve done... Read More

“Slow and Low, That Is The Tempo”

Jun 20, 2017 | Creative Process, Family, Fine Art, Mindfulness, My Creative Journey, My Life, Painting

Paul’s Boutique | NYC, Lower East Side by Melanie Biehle, May 2015 I want things to really sink in. To go slower. To have an impact. To assimilate. Or, as the Beastie Boys said, “Let it flow, let yourself go / Slow and low, that is the tempo.”... Read More

Esprit: Where My Inspiration and Design Obsession Began

Jun 14, 2017 | Creative People, Creative Process, My Creative Journey, Storytelling

The very first time I remember being inspired by color, pattern, and graphic design was when I met Esprit. I remember the early-mid 80s color palettes like it was yesterday – watermelon + lemon, turquoise + purple, red + orange. I remember wearing bold striped... Read More

I Have This Thing With California

Jun 12, 2017 | My Creative Journey, My Life, Painting, Places, Storytelling, Surface Design

Once upon a time in a land just over a thousand miles away from Seattle, I lived in one of these small yellow bungalows a short bike ride from the Pacific Ocean. This magical place was called California. The beach town that I lived in was Santa Monica. As you may or... Read More

CYOP Podcast: Making Big Changes and Going With The Flow

May 12, 2017 | Client Work, Creative People, Creative Process, Creative Strategy, Fine Art, My Creative Journey, Painting, Storytelling

Happy Friday, friends! If you’re looking for something fun and informative to listen to today, check out the most recent episode of the Creating Your Own Path podcast. I’m co-hosting Making Big Changes and Going with the Flow with Jennifer Snyder, and... Read More