Melanie Stimmell (Van Latum) of Las Vegas, NV on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Melanie Stimmell (Van Latum) and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Melanie Stimmell, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Haha… it’s funny that I should be answering this question today of all days! I just finished my very first sculpture in over 35 years. The last time I seriously sculpted was back in college, and ever since, I’ve been telling myself I’d get back to it one day.

For the past four years I’ve been wanting to create something playful that I could make multiples of — sculpt it, mold it, then cast 10, 20, maybe even 300 pieces. But honestly, I kept putting it off because I wasn’t sure if I still had the skill, and I was terrified it wouldn’t turn out the way I envisioned. On top of that, I’ve been so busy keeping up with painting and commissions that it felt almost impossible to carve out time for something completely different.

My studio definitely feels small today with so much happening all at once! Because this morning, on a whim, I grabbed the clay, and just went for it. Step one: complete! I sculpted one of my signature piglets (which my collectors will definitely appreciate), and to my delight — it actually turned out beautifully. I actually shocked myself and couldn’t be happier with how it all came together. It definitely reminds me that it’s always the thing you fear the most that you shouldn’t have been worried about at all.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi lovely readers!!! I’m Melanie Stimmell (Van Latum), a full-time professional artist based in Las Vegas. I create whimsical surrealist paintings, in oils and also soft pastels, that weave together femininity, nature, and storytelling. My work often features women as muses, guardians, or dreamers, surrounded by creatures, flowers, and symbols that carry layers of meaning. I also happen to love painting piglets!!!

My career began on two unexpected branches that grew at the same time: I was working as a lead technical director on South Park (Feature Film then TV series) while also exploring the centuries-old tradition of street painting. That combination of pop culture and classical artistry shaped me in ways I could never have predicted, and eventually led to a life of murals, international festivals, gallery exhibitions, fine art, and lots of travel. I’m proud to be the only woman in the world to hold the title of Maestra Madonnara in both Italy and Germany, and one of my favorite large-scale projects was designing and painting the new domed ceiling at Caesars Palace here in Las Vegas.

Today, my work is collected worldwide through Park West Gallery and on 110 cruise ships, and I continue to build new collections such as The Seed Girls and The Court of Crown & Creature. I also love exploring new ways to share my art beyond the canvas — from surface pattern design to a very special project I’ll be launching this Fall called Gifts for the Goddess.

At the heart of everything I do is the belief that art is more than an image — it’s an invitation to connect with beauty, story, and spirit.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Many years ago, I was in Istanbul, Turkey with an artist friend for a project – introducing street painting to Barbosa Square and the city of Istanbul. The client had specifically asked us to bring extra pastels so the community could join in. While we worked on our large-scale pieces, passersby would pause, grab a piece of chalk from one of the boxes laid out, and leave their own mark on the pavement. Some would just write their name or a symbol, others were very involved.

At one point, we stepped away to take a break. When I turned back, I saw a man in a beautiful three-piece suit with a briefcase stop at one of the boxes. Then he did something remarkable – he got down on one knee, briefcase still in one hand and picked up a stick of chalk with the other and started drawing on the ground. In that moment, he didn’t care that his pants might scuff or that his hands would be dirty on the way to work. He just wanted to create.

It was one of the most moving things I’d ever witnessed. I remember standing there with tears in my eyes because it felt like such an important reminder: creativity belongs to everyone. Beneath the roles we play and the routines we carry, there is a human need to make something beautiful — even if it’s fleeting, even if no one else notices.

When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
When I was a child and the world felt heavy, I always turned to my pets — we had a beautiful dog named Chynna. She was a Shar Pei and had all these fabulous wrinkles that made her especially snuggly. I was often home alone or dealing with some life drama, but Chynna was always there – she was a constant presence. I would bury my face in her folds, and hold her close. She didn’t ask questions or judge, she simply existed beside me — happy to be there, happy to love.

I think that’s why animals continue to find their way into my paintings. They carry the same quiet wisdom Chynna once carried for me: the ability to soothe, to protect, to remind us that love doesn’t need words. In my work, animals often accompany women as guardians, companions, and kindred spirits. It’s my way of honoring that bond — the unconditional comfort they give, and the way they teach us to simply be.

It’s also why ‘adopt don’t shop’ is so important to me. All of my pets have been rescues, because I can’t stand the thought of a loving animal sitting in a shelter — or worse. Giving them a home feels like giving back just a fraction of the love they’ve given me.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I think the belief I’m most committed to — no matter how long it takes — is that art can reconnect us to nature, to creatures, and to ourselves. That thread has run through everything I’ve created, whether it’s a street painting, a Baroque-inspired portrait, or my Seed Girls series. The form may evolve, but the heart of what I do remains the same: honoring the sacred bond between women and the natural world, and reminding us of the quiet wisdom animals bring into our lives. I believe all creatures are sentient, each with their own presence and soul — a reminder that we share this world with beings that feel as much love, pain, and need for belonging as we do.

For me, commitment means not rushing the vision. It means planting seeds and tending them — even if they take a lifetime to flower. Whether it’s a mural that transforms a public space, a painting that whispers a story to a collector, or a rescue animal finding a home, my purpose is to keep creating connections. That’s the work I’ll never walk away from, no matter how long it takes.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’ve always known I was meant to be a creative and I wanted to travel — I just wasn’t set on the specifics. I worked hard, learned all I could and let opportunities guide me. I just made sure to choose wisely along the way. As I mentioned earlier, my career began on two unexpected branches at once: working on South Park/Comedy Central and discovering street painting. Both happened by accident, yet both shaped me into the artist I am today. It wasn’t about being told what to do — it was about trusting the doors that opened and having the courage to walk through them, even if they were scary.

The only times I’ve ever truly felt out of my depth were when projects didn’t inspire me. Inspiration is everything. If a project lights me up, I’ll move the world to make it happen. But if it doesn’t, that’s when the doubt creeps in and I know it’s not the right fit. For me, being “in my depth” isn’t about skill or comfort — it’s about being fully aligned with the vision.

So, yes — I believe I’m doing what I was born to do. I’ve followed the paths that called to me, I’ve adapted as they evolved, and I’ve built a life around creating. The shape of that creativity may shift over time, but the calling itself has always been the same.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://melaniestimmell.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/melaniesvl
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniestimmellvanlatum/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtistMelanieStimmellVanLatum/