Melanie Muniz  

 

Creativity is an attribute that Melanie does not seem to lack frequently though. She continues, “I realized that in the five years I have been working in daycare, I never have had an unfulfilled day. I love taking care of the kids and teaching them new things that they can bring with them into their future lives. It’s a passion, much like art, and I keep finding ways to incorporate my creative abilities into my teaching.

Melanie’s creative abilities are reflected in her ability to use a wide variety of mediums. She explains, “I don't really have a favorite medium. I simply use things that resemble what I have visualized. Before painting I mostly did sketches and created objects with things like string, wood, tissue paper and anything else I could find around the house. About two years ago my grandma let me borrow a huge bag full of acrylic paint that I've been using ever since for all my paintings. I'm still somewhat new to painting so I would like to experiment with things like gouache, oil paint and spray paint.”

This young artist also has a passion to create joy and share it. In her words, “In whatever field I choose, I know I want to pursue a career in which I can help people and make a difference in some way. Because of that I've found ways to turn my hobbies into something that I can share, whether through teaching kids or creating something for a friend. I hope that others find ways to do the same.”

Yet, in spite of her positivity, Melanie experiences doubts… which contribute to introspection and soul searching. She admits, “I think many artists will tell you that they don't like any of their work and I'm no exception. Even though I love painting and others seem to like my art, I'm never fully happy with the end result. I think using a lot of color is a way for me to enjoy my paintings because I love the vibrancy. I can't say that I have a favorite piece in my show, but each of them came from the heart, and I'm glad I took the time to make my ideas come to life for someone else to enjoy.”

 

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