MELISSA G. WATT
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Born on July 30, 1968 and raised in Dallas, Texas, as a young child Melissa was always in love with color and textures. Towards her senior year in High School, she decided to take painting and drawing classes. An interest in painting soon followed.

Melissa further pursued her art studies in college, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Commercial Art from the American Intercontinental University in Los Angeles, California. After graduation, she started to paint as a hobby, and then developed a strong passion for Abstract painting.

In 1991, Melissa entered her first (local) juried art show at The Stout-McCourt Gallery in Dallas, Texas. The Stout-McCourt Gallery was the first local art gallery to represent her artwork. In this juried exhibit, Melissa won “Best Contemporary Artist”. After winning this award, she was able to gain the confidence she needed to pursue her art career. Abstract, Non-Representational art is Melissa’s favorite style of art. Melissa felt this style of art best suited her personality. At this time, Melissa painted primarily with Acrylic and Watercolor. She continued to take art lessons. About a year and a half into these art lessons, she learned the most from working with Betsy Dillard Stroud. Betsy Dillard Stroud is an accomplished Watercolor, Mixed Media artist. Betsy taught Melissa to try new techniques with her art. Betsy inspired Melissa to get “excited” about painting!

Melissa is always trying to learn new techniques when she paints and she also tries to use different mediums as well. Melissa always tries to “Push the envelope” each time she paints. Sometimes when one paints abstractly, you never know how the final outcome will appear. For Melissa, painting is relaxing and joyous. As an artist, she cannot ask for anything more. Aside from raising her daughter Arianna, Melissa also continues to take workshops, striving to become a better painter.

Melissa considers herself as a Mixed Media Abstract artist.

Artists which have influenced Melissa’s painting styles are: Jackson Pollock, Hans Hoffman, Joan Mitchell, Franz Kline, Diego Jacobson and of course, her favorite art teacher and friend from back home in Dallas, Texas, Betsy Dillard Stroud, Melissa’s true inspiration!

AFFILIATIONS:

Signature Member:
Boca Raton Museum of Art
"The Artists' Guild" - Boca Raton, FL
Women in the Visual Arts, Inc. (WITVA) – Delray Beach, FL.

Associate Member:
American Watercolor Society (AWS)
National Watercolor Society (NWS)
Southwestern Watercolor Society (SWS)
Arizona Watercolor Association (AWA)
Northern Arizona Watercolor Guild (SAWG)
Sedona Art’s Center
New Mexico Watercolor Society (NMWS)
International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA)
Society of Layerists In Multi-Media (SLMM)
National Collage Society (NCS)

Friends Member:
Dallas Art Dealers Association (DADA)