Check out Melody Smith’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melody Smith.

Melody, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was born and raised in California and I graduated from Cal State University, Northridge with a degree in Art – Graphic Design. I worked as an art director and a graphic designer for high tech and automotive companies as well as freelancing on projects for the L.A. Marathon, L.A. Philharmonic, and more. My corporate jobs took me around the globe and I was able to travel, art direct, design and soak up cultures along the way. Working in a deadline driven environment was exciting yet very exhausting. I decided to change my career direction once my husband and I had children, so I went back to school to take some graduate classes to earn my teaching degree. I began teaching art at all grade levels and focused more on my own art.

Our family moved to Arizona over 12 years ago and during that time, I have taught art and participated in a multitude of art festivals, gallery shows and art events. A career highlight of mine was traveling to Haiti in 2017 and teaching ocean conservation through art at the Haiti Ocean Project to a group of amazing Haitian kids who are making a big difference in their country. Currently, I continue to teach art at one local High School as an after-school program to keep the arts alive yet the majority of my time is now spent fulfilling my on-line orders, stocking art in stores that sell my art, and creating new pieces.

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?
I think my work reflects my art travels with a twist of my own personal love of pop culture. My art tends to be bold in colors and has a multi-cultural feel. I personally have a love of street art, tattoo art, folk art and pop culture. I try to combine these elements in my art. Growing up in California allowed me to soak up a variety of cultures and my biggest selling art is probably my modern take on my Day of the Dead themed art. I am an artist who is always trying new things. I have never confined my art to a specific category. I like to explore and create but in the end, you can tell it is one of my pieces.

At the other end of the spectrum, I have also been creating art with a message when it comes to global conservation and animal advocacy from promoting a vegan lifestyle to advocating against captivity, Upon returning from Haiti, I started a series of paintings for a show at ASU Gammage that focused on “Critically Endangered” species and it will be on display at several other venues later this year. My conservation art is a great way to express my views in a subtle way that may evoke some thoughts on a major issue or spark a conversation. Other than that, I love creating art that makes you smile, laugh, bring back some retro/pop culture memories or maybe it could just be labeled as some “cool” art (or “sick” as the kids say today 😀

How can artists connect with other artists?
Well, yes being an artist can be a bumpy ride. Some days you feel like a fairly good artist and other days you can’t draw a straight line. Since my studio is in my home I joke around that I do shows just to work on my social skills but I do have to say that the art community in Phoenix has been great. There are plenty of groups, events, get- togethers etc. that are available to those wanting to connect more. Social media has been a great way to connect and although it can be a full-time job within itself, it has proven to be great exposure and more opportunities have developed from it.

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?
On-line Store: etsy.com/shop/urbanartbymelody

Social Media:
Instagram: @MelodySmithsArt
e-mail: info@blackbirdcenter.com

Stores in AZ that sell my art:

Open Mind Emporium
Scottsdale Fashion Square – 7014 E. Camelback Rd.
Scottsdale AZ 85251 (4th Floor across from the Disney Store)

Small Goods Market
1344 W. McKinley Street Suite 104
Phoenix AZ
(On Grand Ave. – South of 15th Ave./Roosevelt

Contact Info:

• Website: etsy.com/shop/urbanartbymelody
• Email: info@blackbirdcenter.com
• Instagram: melodysmithsart

Image Credit:
Melody Smith

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