We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melanie Stokes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Melanie, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Change is always difficult. But it can also present new opportunities, new perspectives, new outcomes. I think being able to accept change is the key to moving ahead. Resilience in my life comes from faith in the knowledge that God weaves the whole story together. I believe that He works all things together for good for those who love Him.
My husband and I moved from Georgia to Texas, after retirement age, to help with grandchildren. With a career in Art Education and an established clientele for selling my paintings, the move caused me to either leave the paint, or take it on the road and rise to the challenge of reinventing myself as an artist.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
With the move, Melanie Stokes Art, has continued to be my platform for sharing who I am and how I interpret what I see. Exploring a new environment through painting “en plein air” has been invaluable to acquaint me with Texas atmosphere, geography, plants and animals. We live on 29 rural acres with cows, and plenty of big Texas Skies. I travel to new places and paint with Outdoor Painters Society. I show my work in a variety of galleries with Professional Artists of Central Texas. And, the Baylor Building Series, painted during the Covid lockdown, evolved into prints, sold to many Alumni who have helped rebuild my client base.
While I often paint commissioned pieces, my real joy is to just paint what I see, mostly outside. The way light touches objects as the day begins, the way clouds float rhythmically across the open sky, the way a cow cares for her young one…these are the images that causes my spirit to soar in gratitude for the beauty of Creation. And when someone says they connect with the painting, that it brings them joy or peace, I am fulfilled.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Being grounded in who I am – As I moved to a new location, I already knew where my strength came from, I already knew my overarching purpose for life.
2. Training in skills at the job I do – After my Art Teacher career, I began taking painting workshops with painters that I most admired. Always a learner, there is always a need for more “paint miles.” Put in the time it takes to make some bad paintings, before you can make good ones.
3. Communication skills and building relationships – My undergraduate degree is in Communications. Maybe that is why I often write “The Story Behind the Painting.” People need to connect with art. Often the story behind why the artist painted it, is the selling point. On the other hand, if the painting doesn’t tell the main idea of the story by itself, then it needs more work.
Building relationships with others is essential to establishing credence in a new location. People need to know who you are, what you can do, and how you can connect with their life.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
For the last 46 years, my husband has been by my side in partnership of life, and encouraging me in my art endeavors. Moving our household four states away from much of our family is easier as long as we are together.
In this new location, I scouted out art groups and found the Professional Artists of Central Texas in Waco. Art friends are always the best! Artists need other artists for critique, inspiration, and networking for new opportunities. So, in searching for resilience, I recommend finding people with common interests to encourage you.
For my husband and I, that included finding a church where others share our Christian beliefs. God is the ultimate source of resilience for me. For that, I am grateful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.melaniestokesart.com
- Instagram: @melaniestokesart
- Facebook: Melanie Stokes Art
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
