Welcome to my "About Me" page. My name is Melanie Pruitt.
I am a fun loving, accepting, friendly and encouraging person who lives by two basic principles: Love God and Love Others.
I have been an active person all my life - competitive diving, tennis, gardening and most recently, developing and teaching a preschool dance program at Vancouver's Columbia Dance Center. I have also been asked many times to speak at women's retreats and conferences which I enjoyed very much.
While teaching preschool dance, I began experiencing some strange physical problems. Over the past seven years, these problems have developed into a newly understood chronic illness of the autonomic nervous system. This has meant that I am no longer active in my past activities and had to quit my dance teaching.
Anxious that illness would not ruin my life, I began looking for things that I could spend my time doing. Being stuck most hours in a recliner is difficult, but I am thankful that it has brought me to a point of developing new artistic endeavors.
Standing Strong - watercolor on Canvas
MY ART:
I believe the best art makes me "feel". My goal with my art is to lead the viewer into the moment, directing them back to my Creator and hopefully stirring emotions within - whether it is sadness, melancholy, peace or joy!
I now have art placed throughout the US and Internationally. It is a great honor to have others enjoy my art.
In college, though studying Child Development, I always had an interest in art. I took several art classes that taught drawing techniques and the use of colored pencil. It wasn't until many years later that I began tole painting with acrylics. I painted on wood and porcelain as well as creating glass Christmas balls.
But when I became ill, the time it took to stand and clean up my paint and brushes began to prohibit me from painting. Looking for something new to do, I went back to an old longing to learn to paint with watercolor. I began reading and watching videos and have been developing a wide range of watercolor technique. I also stumbled upon Art Trading cards and now enjoy the making and selling of ACEO's.
I am continuing to expand my style and media use. My newest creations are oil pastel paintings and something I am calling "Wool Painting". It is a process of taking raw wool roving and felting it, by needle, into an ACEO sized design. I also use needle felting for sculpture and have introduced my own creation of "FlutterBears".
See my website link, below, for more info on all my creations
COMISSIONS:I do take commissions. Check out my website for more info or send me a message and I can create a private auction just for you! Commissions are a great gift idea!!!
I have been given the great honor of receiving two Artist Choice Awards for 2006, and five Artist Choice Awards in 2007.(See awards below)
Thank you for visiting my ME page. I hope you enjoy this slide show showing some of my art from 2008!
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