MELANIE STOKES

Artist Statement

“Painting ‘en plein air’ has been my focus in the last ten years. Painting is something I not only enjoy doing, but something I need to do. It is a language of color and tone that brings richness to my soul. It becomes a spiritual act of worship while I marvel at the beauty of Creation. I want people to feel peace when they look at my paintings — peace, beauty, contentment, a feeling that all is well in their soul. I paint out of my own faith in a God who creates beauty, a God who loves, a God who provides. When a viewer tells me my art speaks to them, I am fulfilled. ”

Learn more about Melanie by visiting her website and following her on social media.

MelanieStokesArt.com @melaniestokesart @melaniestokesart

Background & Bio

Melanie Stokes is an artist, a teacher, a wife, a mother, a mother-in-law, a grandmother and a friend. She was born in Macon, Georgia, grew up in Statesboro, graduated with a B.A. in Communications from Shorter College and earned an M.Ed. in Art Education from GA Southern University. Retired from 26 years of teaching in Georgia public schools, twenty of those as an Art Teacher, she now pursues her passion for painting in her Central TX studio on 29 acres near Mart, Texas. She and her husband, Steve, moved from Georgia in 2018 to retire near family. Painting en plein air, with Outdoor Painters Society, has been a great way to become familiar with a new environment! She also enjoys writing and often posts “The Story Behind The Painting” on her website.