Check out Alexandra Melina’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Melina.

Alexandra, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I’ve spent the majority of my life in Flagstaff Arizona, a location that nurtures the artist in many yet who’s opportunities are slim. I grew up with Greek influence and have always favored beauty and self-care. Even though I was raised away from magazines and billboards the off chances of seeing models in store windows or advertising always made me think “I want to be you.” And I still do, except now I think “I am me, and I want your job.” I’ve explored writing, painting, dancing and modeling.

All outlets bring me joy yet modeling for me is the closest expression tied to business. Once I decided it is what I wanted for myself at this time, opportunity started to present itself through local boutiques and photographers and now, thankfully, through Phoenix Fashion Week. I’ve had the pleasure of walking the runway for emerging Arizona designers and I am more in love with the fashion world now than I ever have been. My paintings and modeling have gifted me a knowledge and a respect of art that both expand daily, I’ve known for quite some time now the life I’ve wanted, and I’ve had a great time finding my way there!

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My artwork is something I’d label as timeless. You’ve seen it before but it’s the first time you’ll see me do it if that makes any sense. I want my styling, my poses, my expressions in modeling to exude classical appeal and steadiness while relating to the world moving around me. It’s not easy. Same thought is applied while painting. It’s recently taken a back seat to fashion but it will emerge again soon in my life and I will aim to inject in it the same vibrations as my modeling. In painted works I explore rhelms of the abstract but it is nothing I have seen done yet, at least not quite same way. I create from emotion and am slowly training my eye to understand the importance of technique in both modeling and painting. Whichever I am partaking in at the moment my pure goal will always be to highlight possibilities that exist for us all if we are willing to see it. Balance is an extraordinary component to art and to every aspect of our lives, I want to help people find that.

The sterotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
Always have a job. It’s not always fun but that’s the soundest advice I can give. Side hustle until you don’t have to. Another piece of advice I can give is to surround yourself with people doing what you want to do. Chances are they will always lend you supplies or advice that rewards much more than your bank account. And focus. Focus focus focus. Prioritize. Do you need new sneakers (me since forever) or do you need to print your portfolio (me now)?

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
You can find me this October on the runway for Phoenix Fashion Week and can contact me for future information about events on alexandramelina.com As far as painting, I will be hosted by Roof Top Solar in Flagstaff Arizona for first Friday November. It has been a wonderfully busy year and the more people I can share these two events with, the happier I will be. If you find my pages on Instagram, say hello! I look forward to getting to know Arizona’s art community and would love to thank Voyage Magazine for featuring my modest beginnings and thank you to all my friends and family who support me and believe in me. If you like my art of either form please inquire how we can create something together.

Contact Info:

• Website: Alexandramelina.com
• Email: model@alexandramelina.com
• Instagram: @alexandra_melinak

Image Credit:
Lizzy Simkins
Romen Cole

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