Today we’d like to introduce you to Melody Huisjen.
Melody, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As a kid, I was a doodler; a skill I’ve fortunately or unfortunately passed down to my daughters. I was also in love with miniatures. From troll dolls to mini gummy bears, I loved all things tiny. I had a knack for accurate drawing, including portraiture, which was encouraged by my Boulder High School art teacher, my sister and parents, and many others. Many of my pictures from high school still hold up today. However, I repeatedly heard that “art is a sure way to stay broke forever” so I did not go to art school, instead studying kinesiology and psychology. When I was short on money in college and grad school, though, I gave art as gifts. My drawings were usually with colored pencils or were acrylic paintings.
I received my Master’s Degree in School Counseling and loved my first job at Littleton High School, where I was until my husband got a job in California. While in California, I worked with emancipating foster youth, coaching them with life plans as they left the foster care system. People are my heart, and relationships motivate me, so these positions, while challenging, have been important to the development of my art. Once I had my daughters, I found myself craving time just to focus on them. They renewed a sense of whimsy and joy into my life, which I often transpose on canvas or paper. Three years ago, I launched Hideaway Art & Craft.
The way I began my business was by creating Hideaway Boxes, which are backpack ornaments that hold a mini animal inside. They are original animal paintings, mostly done in ink. I then started working bigger. I was reading about the many names of God and the power of light. I had been working on watercolor more, combining it with ink, since acrylic can be unruly. I had the idea of making lighted shadow boxes with each of the names in Hebrew, and they sold well in my initial vendor sales. Branching into more landscape-style backgrounds and mixing in art papers was the next step in the development of my shadow boxes. I teach shadowbox workshops now so others can share in the fun.
Showcasing my fine art is my greatest challenge now. I have long been a small-works artist, and have been successful with the ink and watercolor media, frequently relying on the beauty of Colorado, its pioneers, and vignettes I see in our interaction with the world. I am constantly challenging myself to create bigger, dynamic, colorful art while maintaining accuracy.
I have recently delved into the world of Plein air with surprising success. Foothills Art Center has been my hub for this journey. The opportunities I have received through the center has led me to gain confidence in my art. I co-coordinate the Art Explorer Open Studio Group with Nikki Nienhuis, so I’ve immersed myself in so many local-art things, and it’s been incredible.
I love doing commissioned work: portraits, cabins, pets, anything that is personal. Many Goldenites have hired me.
As for where I am today: now that the holiday expo season is done, I’m focusing my time on creating more watercolor and ink paintings as often as I can in my home studio.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I may draw well, but I’ve never had confidence that I have a place in the art world. Because I began with colored pencil, and it’s not a highly respected medium, I felt that I had to paint to get anywhere, but wasn’t happy with acrylic, and never wanted to invest in oil. I was thrilled when I found a happy medium (pun intended) of watercolor and ink. One (of a few) hiccups with this though were when another artist at an open-air event told me I had no business doing what I do in watercolor and ink. I should ONLY be painting with acrylic because I’m ruining the fluidity and starkness of watercolor. Even though I chose not to validate it, his voice is still in my head. Fortunately, since then, I’ve had even more success with my paintings, getting better each time at knowing when to step back or stop.
Earlier in my life, I was in a relationship with a talented artist, although he was abusive. The dynamic of the relationship was that I never felt adequate, or as good as him in terms of art. And of course, his abuse included minimizing my talent, so that kept me from pursuing anything art-like for many years. My husband, thank God, is nothing like him and is the most encouraging, honest partner ever. His belief in my raw skill, especially within the paintings themselves, has moved mountains for me (onto my papers). 🙂
I feel I need to keep doing the shadowboxes, though, for diversification. I want art to be approachable, and literally have no clue how to price things, which is a huge obstacle for me. I gather so much joy when people respond positively to my art, a workshop, or a painting that I just want to give it to them… gifting is my love language. But it doesn’t help the bottom line, and my talent is worth investment. Ironically, I get mad when someone thinks they can do what I do, especially with each different box. No, really, people, I designed each one-none are identical. I want the credit, even though art is my gift from God. Ah, conundrums of humanity.
I’m sure all artists say this, but time is also an obstacle and the fear of getting stale. Plus social media marketing sure seems like a burden sometimes.
We’d love to hear more about your art.
Hideaway Art & Craft was named such because my shadowboxes are a merging of art and craft. A lot of design goes into them; they’re symbolic, thoughtful, fun and cohesive. And they’re all developed from a quality image, painted with care that I create a story around. The “hideaway” part has to do with my nature of hiding from the world as an introvert, and as one who wants to surround herself with integrity and authenticity. Craft doesn’t sound intimidating, which refers to my desire to make art approachable.
If I’m known for anything, at least in Golden it is these boxes. When I have people commit to a workshop (which is another major struggle) they rave about how unique each box becomes, and how significant to them. I use my counseling background to connect each person with their creation, embracing their so-called mistakes as a new creation. Helping them see that perfection isn’t necessary is so fun for me. My sister and I have done multiple creative wellness classes too. My favorite workshop packed a punch. I facilitated a color-theory shadow box workshop that used one of my tree paintings as a life tree, where US Veterans created milestones with layers of paper and symbolic ephemera behind the tree. I still have chills when I think of the impact of that one. I get to work with Broomfield Veteran’s Museum again, this time in partnership with my sister, also a veteran, as I interpret her incredible poems through painting. The more I get to work with groups like this, the more I am fulfilled as an artist.
At Foothills Art Center, they know me for my bright, somewhat alternative colors and detailed paintings. My connections on Santa Fe and at 40West Art Gallery know me for my symbolic, graphic art. And in Boulder, I’ve recently joined the art world in the best way I can imagine: telling my own family’s story across four generations of Boulder natives. My painting, Drawing My Boulder is up at Museum of Boulder through January. This past year, though, has been a rapid journey of goals reached, milestones, honors, awards, and opportunities, I have my style. Now one of the greatest compliments is that they know a Melody Huisjen. That’s a huge step.
Color and authenticity are my greatest attributes, I think. And I’m good at trees. 🙂
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I have never teared up at an opening until this last one December 6. The Museum of Boulder hosted Boulder County Arts Association’s, Member Show. I thought I was a long shot because my work was so personal. I agonized over it, as Nikki, my sister Maryanna and my husband can attest.
My grandmother was a watercolor artist whom I never met. One of her last paintings before her death was of a rose that I have cherished for years. Last year, I chose the word “redemption” as my word of the year, so part of that was bringing new life to older paintings. I asked my dad for permission to adapt it. I cut the rose out after tracing it and flipping it, then created my own version of a rose in watercolor and ink. I added dates of the Wienbroeer family interactions within Boulder, starting with the founding of the town. My grandparents raised my dad in the same house I grew up in, and then I married a man who lived on the other section of Juniper, where my home was. To complete the picture, I drew my daughter running through a park that my grandmother had helped establish when she was part of the Boulder Botanic Society. We walked through it last year at my BHS reunion. History came full circle this year, as my father-in-law will be the last family member to move out of Boulder after so many years.
Being able to have my dad, in particular at the opening, seeing his daughter join his mother in art, was a blessing. I had to stop looking at the painting and my family while I was there because I kept ruining my makeup. I am so proud that I get to share my roots through art in the place my art began as a little girl. The significance of that moment is priceless.
Pricing:
- Original Watercolor and Ink Paintings: $75-500
- Prints: $20-55
- Shadowbox or Creative Wellness Workshops: Individuals: $45-60, discounts for groups of 8 or more; Can be at your venue, home, or my studio
- Original Design Shadow Boxes: $50-110
- Commissioned Work: $55+
Contact Info:
- Address: 682 Joseph Circle, Golden, CO 80403
- Website: www.hideawayartandcraft.com
- Phone: 3035489386
- Email: hideawayartandcraft@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/hideawayartandcraft
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/hideawayartandcraft
- Other: www.etsy.com/hideawayartandcraft
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