Melissa Grace Young

“I was born a maker. Artistic expression began for me with scissors and crayons and paste and paints. None of those creations remain, but the spark ignited then burns on. I create because I must, for peace of mind, for my sanity really. And as I must, I’ve found ways to make art a big part of my life.

For the last twenty years, I’m drawn to figure and portrait sketching and painting, particularly the female form. And especially the divine female form, the madonna, with halos and hands and flaming hearts, and yes even crowns. I find myself creating madonnas of vivid colors and unbalanced facial features and body parts; so few things in life are perfect, and yet they can be perfectly beautiful.

These days I fill journals with images of everyday wonders, and transcendent figures with extraordinary vision and strength. I’m teaching art journaling with the same passion that I approach my art- with wild abandon and sacred reverence for all things creative. I believe we are all born to create, that we are all part of this ongoing creation story. I love teaching techniques that explore spontaneous approaches to the page. The joy in creative expression happens when we leave behind preconceived notions of what our art should be like, and let the element of surprise and magic guide us.”