A Passion for Beauty

Hello,

I'm Melinda Blake Jennings, a veteran artist/entrepreneur whose "soft realist" works have been represented in fine art galleries in Carmel, California and Sedona, Arizona.

After concluding my college art studies, I established a successful mural business, Wallpaintings by Melinda. I designed and painted hundreds of murals for many corporate clients and individuals. Encouraged by the enthusiastic reception of my work, my husband Gordon urged me to pursue my dream of becoming an easel painter. 

I began working on and completed "The Grand Estates Collection," an acclaimed series of large-scale canvases which remain popular sellers today. The Collection features stately old Manor Houses nestled on lushly verdant grounds and accented with antique stone and brickwork - many graced by quaint, wrought-iron filigree entry gates. 

I displayed my talents at the nationally-ranked Scottsdale Celebration of Fine Art in 2006. 

My paintings have been juried into some of America's foremost national and international fine art showcases, including:

The Salmagundi Club National Exhibition (New York)
The American Women Artists National Exhibition (Dallas)
The Art Renewal Center International Salon Exhibition (New Jersey)
The Greenhouse Gallery Salon International Exhibition (San Antonio)
The Scottsdale Salon International Exhibition (Scottsdale)

Among other prized professional honors, my work was selected for display on the walls of the Arizona State House of Representatives to promote the year-long Arizona State Centennial Celebration. I and the other participating artists received official recognition on the legislature floor followed by a private reception.

I co-founded an organization of select, award-winning artists, The Ateliers Group (TAG). We premiered our Southwest paintings at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum Gallery on the scenic site of their 323-acre Sonoran Desert foothills preserve. (The reviews were exceptional and the show was held over.)

I had a solo exhibition at the Solana Beach City Hall Gallery in May and June of 2018. Over 30 of my paintings were displayed to rave reviews. 

My passion for beauty borders on an obsession. Being an artist for me means being on the look out for beauty. It means being aware of patterns, textures contrasts and subtle color differences. Because I've learned to look very carefully when I paint, I look more carefully when I'm not painting. I'm not a thrill seeker in the usual sense of the word, but I can be thrilled by a tree in bloom or aflame with fall colors, by the sky full of clouds or even by the shadow made by light coming in my kitchen window. When you look for beauty, you find yourself living in an exquisitely beautiful wold. 

I struggle to communicate to the viewer what I see with my heart and feel with my eyes. I believe that any work of art is only truly completed when it ignites an emotional dialog between the artist and viewer. It creates that magical moment when the artist and viewer become partners in the mystery of fine art. A painting is an intimate invitation that the artist extends to the viewer to unite in artistic vision.

I would love to hear from you,

Melinda Jennings

golindygo@hotmail.com