We were lucky to catch up with Melanie Stimmell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Melanie, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience, for me, is the art between the art.
It’s what’s kept me creating through the unpredictable tides of a freelance life, where the only constant is change. The art world shifts, trends fade, markets rise and fall — and I’ve learned that I have to move with it, not fight it. If I don’t adapt, I don’t just risk relevance — I risk my ability to live the life I’ve built for me, for my family.
But resilience is more than weathering change. It’s also the ability to meet harsh words — those “truths” people speak as if they’re unshakable — and decide for yourself whether they deserve a place in your story. Years ago, someone told me that “females don’t sell as well in fine art.” For a time, that stung deeply. I knew my art history and the bias that comes with it but I never really felt it until it was presented to me as an excuse – it felt like a door I could never open.
Then I realized: even if something has been true historically, it doesn’t mean it has to remain so. Maybe I can’t change the entire art world, but I’ll certainly change my own. I chose not to accept that as my truth. Instead, I decided my work, my voice, and my vision would be so undeniable that it could stand above outdated beliefs.
Resilience, to me, is a quiet rebellion — the choice to keep blooming in spaces where others say you can’t grow, and to plant seeds in new ground when the old fields go fallow. It’s what almost my entire body of work is all about.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a fine artist and muralist who has spent more than two decades turning walls, panels, and pavement into stories. My career began like two branches reaching for the sunlight — South Park and street painting both happened at the same time, entirely by accident, yet they were beautifully perfect for that moment in my life. One gave me the experience of working in the heart of pop culture, the other introduced me to a centuries-old art form that would take me around the world.
Since then, I’ve traveled to festivals and competitions across the globe, earning the rare title of Maestra Madonnara in both Italy and Germany. Along the way, I’ve painted everything from intimate portraits to monumental projects — including designing and painting the domed ceiling of the Grand Entrance at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
What excites me most about my work isn’t just the finished image — it’s the emotional connection. Every piece begins with a narrative, a heartbeat, a reason to exist beyond its visual beauty. That’s what makes Fine Art so exciting. I get to paint soft pastel or oil paintings that feature symbolic, often surreal female figures surrounded by nature and animals, each tied to a personal letter that I attach to the back of the artwork. It’s my way of creating not just a painting, but a relationship between the work and the collector.
I’m also working on something I’ve dreamed of for years — a way to bring my images, ideas, and stories together in one place that you can enjoy beyond just your walls. It’s all focused on the idea of every female being a ‘Goddess’, and while I can’t reveal everything yet, I will say there’s a waitlist for those who want to be first to know when it launches. You can join via my website to hear about that along with upcoming exhibitions, murals, and special releases.
Right now, I’m focused on expanding my newest fine art series’, working on private commissions, and preparing for several upcoming exhibitions and murals. And while I’ve been fortunate to receive incredible opportunities, I still believe the most exciting work is the piece I haven’t painted yet — the one that’s still just an idea waiting to bloom.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Ok, I’ve got 3 that are super important and great to remember when you’re just starting out…
Adaptability: Don’t get attached to just one path — your dream job may be something you haven’t even imagined yet. Learn new skills, stay curious, and be willing to evolve. BUT…think about the ultimate, absolute DREAM you have before making any decision. You always want to be moving toward that – even if you have no idea how you’ll get there.
Resilience: Rejection and setbacks aren’t the end — they’re the tuition you pay for your creative education. Get up, dust yourself off and use them as fuel to refine your vision, not define your limits.
Storytelling: People connect with stories more than objects. This took me a long while to realize – especially being a shy, introverted artist :). Whether through your art, captions, or conversations, learn to share the “why” behind what you make.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes!
I’m in the early stages of building a creative mastermind — something inspired by Napoleon Hill’s definition in The Law of Success: “A coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.”
I’ve always believed that connection fuels growth, and I love Barbara Sher’s words: “Isolation is the killer of dreams.” As artists, it’s so easy to get caught in our own bubbles, working alone and missing out on the ideas, encouragement, and accountability that come from a trusted circle.
My vision is to gather a small group of creatives who want to meet once or twice a month — to share goals, troubleshoot challenges, and cheer each other on. It’s about building momentum together, helping each other grow, and making sure none of our dreams fade quietly in isolation.
If you’re reading this and it resonates, I’d love to hear from you. Creatives can email me at [email protected] with “Mastermind” in the subject line so I know you’re interested.
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: @melaniesvl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtistMelanieStimmellVanLatum/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniestimmellvanlatum/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
