Gabrielle Melli
Website – somethingmelli.com
Social media – IG: @somethingmelli
“Making art reminds me of how big the world is.”
What made you want to join Art Gym? I found Art Gym when I was craving human connection. I have worked from home, both artistically and in my day job, for 5 years, and I found myself wanting to submerge myself in the company of other creatives. Art Gym ended up being the perfect place to find companionship and inspiration in my fellow artists.
How has Art Gym helped with your art practice? The other members at Art Gym are so friendly and very willing to share knowledge, techniques, and feedback. I’m a self-taught artist, so being able to ask questions of other members allows me to learn so much more than I could figure out on my own.
Who and/or what are some of your biggest artistic influences? Much of my inspiration comes from flowers and nature. I love stumbling upon a field of wild flowers and being in awe about how bright and vivid the colors are, how complex the shapes and patterns look, all without human intervention. It’s a miracle, isn’t it?
What are you hoping to communicate through your work? For a long time, my art has mostly been just for me – incorporating nature and bright colors into physical movement are a type of somatic therapy that helps me shut out the world. As I began sharing my art, I found that not only was the process of making art fulfilling, but so was sharing joy with others about my work. I hope that the soothing I experience in creating art can be passed along to the viewer as well.
What does your artwork mean to you? Making art reminds me of how big the world is. Techniques, mediums, and inspiration have all been brewing around us from the beginning of time. Each element of making art is connected to everything and everyone around me, throughout all of time. Some may find this expansiveness lonely or unnerving, but for me it’s comforting. All that has come before me makes my work possible. What a gift!
