Melissa Schainker shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Melissa, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
When you work in the arts, it’s amazing how often people minimize the work and don’t consider it a “real job.” I am often asked what I actually do. Despite having what many consider a fun job, the amount of work behind the scenes is astounding. This is not a 9-5 job. I’m grateful every day to do it, but it requires tenacity and resilience.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a full-time fine artist and musician. My day job encompasses fine art, mural work, and helping run an art collective. No one day looks the same. My main medium is painting. I also front a band, Angel Grit, and we perform in and around New York City. When I’m not drawing or painting, you’ll find me with a guitar in my hands.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents ran a small business and taught me a ton about work ethic. My Dad is a contractor and it was inevitable that I would also work with my hands. I grew up building and creating with him, I have never known anyone with such a keen sense of detail. This spilled over into my own work. I watched him create ideas and execute them to an impressive outcome. I was taught to always take work to it’s strongest presentation.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Art is an incredibly healing medium. Pain is an inevitable part of life, but how we channel it defines us. I create work that holds a mirror to my struggles with anxiety, both in my visual art and music. When these emotions take form in song or on canvas, they are released from my brain. I no longer have to hold space for them. This creates art that is not only relatable, but incredibly therapeutic. This release is powerful.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Authenticity is central to my art. I create from my innermost thoughts. There is no room for an alternative persona in my creative process. We are living in an increasingly curated world and I believe that does a disservice to society. It’s important to embrace our flaws and show the world unfiltered thought. This helps to create art that stirs emotion and is relatable.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I am most at peace while creating, whether writing a song or painting a piece. The process of art-making purges me of negativity and turns darkness into beauty. Making art feels meditative and helps me to shut down the noise of the outside world. It’s the one time where I get to slow down and focus on one thing at a time. Each color, each note is a step towards calm. There is truly no better feeling.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mschainkerfineart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mschainkerfineart
Image Credits
Hideki Aono
Justin Muñoz
RJ Wafer
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