We had the good fortune of connecting with Melanie Farris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melanie, have you had any epiphanies during or due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
At the beginning of 2020, I took on many new roles in my art career. Many of which had me spreading myself too thin and focusing on projects that did not allow creative freedom. I was spending less and less time on my own work and it caused me to feel overwhelmed and unfulfilled. Once Covid-19 hit, all of the extra projects I had taken on came to a screeching halt. The lock down made me very anxious about the state of the world. However, I was relieved to be able to put 110% of my focus into creating new art that fulfilled my purpose. During this new found time in my studio, I was able to reflect on the last few months and how they have affected me. I realized that I should be more mindful about my time and focus on projects that I am excited about. I find it rewarding to take on new challenges because they encourage growth, but when I have to sacrifice my creative vision, my growth is suppressed and I end up feeling empty. As difficult as this crisis has been, I am thankful that I was given the time to come to these realizations. I feel confident I will overcome the obstacles this crisis has thrown my way and will be a stronger artist because of it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My acrylic paintings can be described as geometric abstraction and/or optical illusions. I use color gradients to achieve depth and vibration. I prefer to use patterns and shapes that hypnotize, so that even for a moment, everything else is forgotten and you have been transported to another space. Because of this, I call my paintings, “portals.” My work is different than most because I enjoy using math and problem solving to create my designs. I am self taught and my incremental progress feels like my greatest achievement. I am able to see my style develop and transform with each new painting and that process is really exciting! If this path were easy, it would not be worth taking. I am constantly faced with challenges on this journey. Some obstacles are easier than others, and some days it feels like there’s no way I can make a living with art. All I can do is focus on getting better at my craft and learn better ways to run a business. When I stay focused and work hard, I am met with opportunities that help progress my career. The creative path is definitely a roller coaster ride! I’ve learned that my time is valuable and to focus on work that fulfills me. It is also really important to make connections with other creatives. When creative people come together, we encourage each other to dream bigger and push boundaries. My creative journey is about personal growth and enlightenment. Every single person is creative in their own way. When you discover and feed that part of yourself, you’re unlocking more than creative potential. You’re freeing a part of yourself that has been locked away and really amazing things will happen. I encourage each and every person to explore a creative hobby and watch the magic unfold when they find their niche.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
There’s so many great things to do in Austin! I would start out by going to the Blanton Museum of Art and Art For The People Gallery. The Blanton is where you will find art from all over of the world with a ton of big name artists, and Art For The People is wall to wall creations by ATX locals. For outdoor activities, Zilker Park is always a blast and the trails along Ladybird Lake are refreshing. There’s also some really beautiful caves around here if you’re willing to travel outside of the city. To get a feel for the amazing street art scene here in Austin, I would go to Polis Creative, a warehouse on the east side that is covered in art from floor to ceiling by 100+ artists. You would likely catch a few artists in action at Polis Creative too. When I like to catch a good concert in town, Empire Control Room is the place to be. There’s a stage inside and another outside at this venue, and you will definitely meet cool locals. Incredible food is on every corner here in Austin and I enjoy a wide variety of cuisines. Depending on your mood, you could go for real southern comfort food at Jack Allen’s Kitchen or some of the best BBQ in Texas at Rollin’ Smoke.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
HUGE shoutout to my husband! He is constantly challenging me to push my boundaries and truly believes in my creative vision. I’m so lucky to have his never ending support.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melaniefarris.art/
Twitter: @melfarris_art
Facebook: @melaniefarris.art