Connections: what connect
us? How are the details, the experiences, the threads of our lives
woven to link us into a greater existence, whether physically, with people or
beings; emotionally, with our feelings; or spiritually, strengthening our
faith in the unseen? I certainly don’t know the answer in whole, but I
believe my journey in these monthly interviews will introduce me to my
“teachers”, these beautiful artists who have found some of these connections
in their art.
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| Melanie Mason |
Melanie Mason found her love for art and creativity at a
very young age. At about the age of 6,
she was given a Spirograph, and from that moment on, she could not put it
down and loved to create many shapes and designs and use of colors.
However, as with many of us, life sent her
down a different path which was too busy with career, marriage and children
to allow her to work on her artistic dreams.
It was just in the last ten years that her life has allowed her, and she
will also add, thrown her, into her search for those connections that she
needed to make her life complete.
As I sat around her home filled with artistic energy from
ceiling to floor, on every wall and piece of furniture, in her dishes and
glassware, in the shower stall made from broken teacups, I found myself hanging
on every word as she answered my questions.
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What style or medium do you
use for your artwork?
I started out working
in watercolors. This was a great experience for me, but I found that the
pictures were too realistic. I found that something was lacking, and over time
discovered that what was lacking was the imagination in my art. So I allowed my imagination to guide me, and the
path took a turn that could be described as more whimsical, taking the
seriousness out of life and replacing it with just plain fun. I create art in many different forms, from
watercolor to oil paintings to gardening, to creating decorated glassware for
my home, to making very unique jewelry, to designing women’s dresses from men’s
t-shirts that have spectacular designs, to my newest endeavor of using a
bandsaw to cut large shapes out of wood, sanding them, and then designing art
on them.
If your art was your fishing
line, and you cast it out and then reel it back in, what is at the other end of
the line?
Fun. Happiness.
The purpose of my art is to remind people not to take life so
seriously. When I do a painting, I put
little surprises in the design that the customer has to look for. Tiny messages in little spaces throughout the
painting, accentuating small insignificant details like whiskers and eyelashes,
nostrils and ears. Unique items in my jewelry like watch faces and the Three Stooges! I throw it all out there to the
world and receive the joy that they experience!
What inspires you as you
prepare for a project?
Taking note of all
the unique beauty in the world around me, as well as taking time to be unique
myself. I love trees. I love that each tree is so different; it
really makes me look at one project in many different ways. I love animals and have always loved drawing
and painting them. Once I had a birthday
party and showed up wearing rows of pearls and a pink tutu! It was just an expression of fun and
inspiration!
Melanie found herself the victim of advanced stage breast
cancer seven years ago. After
undergoing a mastectomy and chemotherapy, she needed something to focus on,
to keep her thinking about something other than her scars, her loss of hair,
her nausea, her fears. She bought an
older home in the city and began to renovate the home and to dive into her
artwork.
I wonder two things about
the connection between your art and your cancer. On one end of the pendulum, you have your
art, your creative expression. On the other end, you have many issues you
were dealing with related to the
cancer. Your emotions, fears, anger,
denial, physical fatigue, nausea, illness, dealing with the possibility of
end of life. You needed support,
therapy, strength. What I am wondering is, does your art become
your therapy, your strength, your support?
Does your art affect how you deal with your cancer? OR does your cancer affect how you do
art? Does it change your focus, your
influence?
Well, probably a
little of both. My art was definitely
my therapy. It kept me busy and
focused while I was going through my chemo. Even before that, as a way of
fighting back, I painted two sensual pictures of myself to help me feel (and
document) my womanhood fully and completely, before surgery would disrupt
that.
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Art was my lifeline. But as far
as cancer affecting my art, I would say yes as well. Because of my cancer, my art took on more
importance. I wanted more than ever to
put joy out into the world. I wanted so
much for my art to have more meaning for others; I wanted my art to actually
participate in the lives of those who see it, or demand participation from the
viewer. Which is why I leave small
messages and designs that people have to search for. They need to engage to find the joy in my
artwork. I began to do art that would
leave a legacy when I am gone. I have
these collages with comic strip backgrounds and all my grandchildren’s favorite
items, so they will always have something to remember me by.
Where would you like your
art to take you in the future?
I want to become bolder and
braver with my art. Maybe someday
enter my artwork in Grand Rapids Art Prize.
(This is an annual competition that draws artists from all over the country
and takes over the entre downtown.)
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How do you define
creativity?
Creativity to me is a
place, a “zone” that takes me away from my problems. It is a healthy need. It is a place to go to where healing comes
from a higher place as you express this healing in your artwork. Creativity is the way in which we bring out
the best in ourselves.
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If you had one lesson that
your art could teach others, what would it be?
Don’t take life so
seriously. It is meant to be
enjoyed.
Connections.
I so enjoyed this wonderful evening, learning how the threads of
Melanie’s world came together to strengthen her and give her a reason and
desire to live fully, during a time when she literally faced death. How the bright, whimsical, message of her
art helps others to connect to joy, to a more positive outlook, to physical
beauty and heartwarming emotions. I
hope reading about Melanie’s journey helped you to weave a few more threads
of awareness of how your own creativity connects you with your world. I know it has done that for me.
If you are interested
in learning how you may purchase Melanie’s artwork, or would like to send
her a message of inspiration, you may LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW!
Or email us at blog@ooakartisans.com
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