Meet Melanie Warsinske

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Warsinske.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Melanie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Originally born in Washington DC, travels were many as my father was in the Air Force and we moved every few years. When not in the U.S., we lived in England for three years and the journeys throughout Europe each summer helped shape my life and influenced my artistic expression (unbeknownst to me at the time). We also had a family cabin on Rosebud Lake in Montana, just southeast of Red Lodge, where we gathered for family reunions – hiking, boating and developing my love of the outdoors. I was painfully shy as a child and teen, and although I come from a “creative family”, I never thought about being an artist, until my junior year in high school.

In groups of three, we had to get up in front of the class and give a history report (kill me NOW were my 1st thoughts!!). I begged my teacher, Mrs. Hardy, to let me draw pictures to go along with the verbal reports of the other two students. Seeing the panic in me, she finally agreed! Then she started asking me to draw things for her classroom … like a life-sized “Monterey Plainsman” mascot for her classroom door — and she encouraged me to study art my senior year. I took a jewelry-making class – loved it! – and then after HS graduation, I decided to study Art at Texas Tech University with their Fine Arts Experimental Painting major. The rest is “history” (no pun on words intended!). I lucked out with this “experimental” major and used the wood and metal shops to add objects and textures to my oil and mixed media paintings — and I also minored in Ceramics; as well as participating in a Summer painting workshop in Taos in my Senior year.

Back then, I worked VERY largely – eight to ten paintings (or larger) and had the 1st Woman’s Art Exhibit in the Art Department as an undergraduate. People ask me all the time – when did you start painting “abstractly”? The answer is — from day ONE! I have no idea where my abstraction comes from – but from the very start, my oil paintings were always abstract. I love the texture and have continued to add texture or found objects to my canvas. I think maybe I was releasing the memories of all the amazing journeys I’d taken — always looking out at the landscapes, clouds in the sky from an airplane, waves crashing on the beach. I’ve always had a fixation with the movement and power that nature holds. After college, I moved to Colorado — which was my favorite place of all my US travels. I worked as a Technical Illustrator for Wyle Labs. I continued with my paintings and participated in Art Shows in Colorado Springs. Then I moved to the Denver area and soon into the foothills of Denver where I still live today. I’ve worked for a ‘wallpaper border company painting wallpaper designs in different color schemes; graphic artists designing brochures and business cards. I have had ‘J.O.B.’s’ along the way, raised my two step-daughters with my husband … but always have tried to keep painting throughout these times. I am now a full-time artist represented by Mirada Fine Art Gallery in the Denver area, as well as The Walnut Gallery in Longmont. Now that I have the opportunity to paint full-time, I’m looking to expand my artistic presence.

Has it been a smooth road?
Being a Fine Artist is never a cake-walk. There are financial challenges just in trying to get recognized and have credibility as an ARTIST. Appreciation of art is ‘in the eye of the beholder’ — and often the cost of purchasing art is balked at …. many put value to homes, cars, etc. but have a difficult time putting a value on original artwork … the pool of true art appreciation is limited to a select population. I have entered many Art Shows, I teach art classes, I’ve won accolades, etc., but by far, the biggest challenge I’ve had is finding Gallery that will take the time to look at my work. I’ve come to a place in my life or time in my life, that my artwork has become NOW or NEVER. Time just flies by at lightning speed and having the desire to fulfill my artistic desire, to share my art with the public has become a priority! I have also been fortunate to have my art mentor, Tadashi Hayakawa in life.

I met Tadashi about ten years ago and he is the reason I’m now a full-time artist. He has encouraged me to paint for myself and not others; I have an inventory of paintings available for when that one ART PATRON appears and wants to choose between many paintings to purchase; and of course, Tadashi has instilled confidence in me as a legitimate, talented (no gimmick) artist. My place of peace, fulfilling my soul’s purpose is painting in my studio — and of course, the ultimate joy is having someone feel as passionate about my work as I do — to have my work in someone’s home or office is the ultimate honor!

Having the representation of Mirada Fine Art Gallery has also been life-changing/ART-changing for me. The gallery owners/staff are ALWAYS looking out for their artists, giving us opportunities for featured shows, marketing us, providing opportunities for painting demos — the list goes on in other words … they don’t just sit and wait for customers to come through the door – they are proactive. In addition to representation, Mirada staff are art lovers themselves. it’s not just a business for them — and clients who walk in the door feel that.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
My art fulfills my soul’s purpose of self-expression. My intent for my oil & mixed media paintings is to take the viewer on a journey. I want them to get lost in my paintings and be able to forget the fast pace of our world and find peace. My paintings, more often than not, express my current condition — although I participate in a short meditation before I start painting, life often gets in the way. My abstract paintings can represent Chaos, peacefulness, or just mood or feeling that works itself out onto my canvas.– I intend to ‘move’ the viewer (move emotionally or move their eye throughout the painting). I work in both non-objective/expressive abstracts and subjective abstracts. My non-objective paintings are expressed on to my canvas through the personally generated feelings or emotions I feel or the earth’s natural wonders that I’ve experienced. My subjective abstract paintings depict the movement of horses or the statuesque beauty of Aspen trees. I work on stretched canvas with oil paint, oil sticks, texturing mediums, found objects such as wood or metal — and my application might include different brush stroke techniques and brush sizes, palette knives or even large masonry trowels and rags. As much paint that goes on to my canvas often comes back off through rubbing, sanding or scraping.

What sets me apart from others is … I don’t care what the popular trends are – I continue to paint from my heart and soul; and have my own personal expression and hope that my work connects with the public and my art patrons on a level they can relate to personally.

I’m proud to be fortunate to: Still have parents and family that continue to support my artistic journey; to be represented by Mirada Fine Art; to be able to teach adults to paint abstractly by letting their ‘inner-child’ appear and let go of the daily stresses of reality … and to even become professional artists themselves! I consider teaching to be a ‘gift’, as I teach them … we all learn from each other — art should be about sharing, self-expression and touching the hearts of others. I’m proud to have my own studio to paint in from dawn to all hours of the morning if I desire! I’m proud to call myself a working artist and to be able to share my gift with others.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Denver is a great city for the arts! Of course, I’d encourage any artist to pursue their dream here. We are so lucky to have the Denver Art Museum, the Kirkland, the Clyfford Still, on and on … we are very FORTUNATE! We also have amazing art galleries in different parts of Denver, Santa Fe Arts District, Gaylord area and other outlying communities close by. Denver used to be known as a ‘Cow-town’ when I first moved here NO LONGER true — Denver has become very progressive and supportive of the Arts! So proud to be able to be a part of this ART community! We just want to make sure that the millennials and our youth understand the value of art in their lives and the value of ORIGINAL art!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.melaniewarsinske.com
• Phone: 3034372203
• Email: mel@melaniewarsinske.com
• Instagram: www.melaniewarsinske.com
• Facebook: @melwarsinske
• Twitter: @MelanieWarsins2

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