THE ARTIST
I am Melissa Santos, a self taught artist with a focus on realism and oil paint. My journey began in Rochester, New York where I was born and raised. One day, when I was only 4 years old, I sat at my kitchen table and drew a t-shirt. I was so amazed that what I drew actually looked “real”. That moment ignited a lifelong passion for art, and fueled my love for realism.
When I was a kid I had speech issues and trouble communicating. (Even as an adult I feel i have trouble clearing communicating whats going on in my mind) .. As I got older I really just loved the idea that I could draw or paint & make anything look real. When people see my art there wouldn’t be this misunderstanding that I became so accustomed to. Art & realism became my voice, a means of clear expression in a world where I felt a sort of fear to speak my mind.
Throughout my teenage years, I explored various artistic mediums, eventually falling in love with oil paint. I moved to New York City to study fashion design. While pursuing a career in fashion design took precedence initially, my heart never strayed far from art. Over a decade in the denim industry honed my design skills but left me longing and missing the creative “artist” part of me.
In 2022, after over a decade of living in New York City, I made the decision to return to Rochester. Reconnecting with my hometown and the place where I first fell in love with oil painting, reignited the spark of inspiration, and motivated me to reclaim my identity as an artist. In 2023, I signed the lease to my first art studio, and decided to just be an artist, no matter what it takes, marking a pivotal moment in my artistic journey.
Now fully committed to my art, I am balancing my passion with a full-time career in fashion design. My aspirations include transitioning to full-time artist in the near future, curate a cohesive collection and debut my first solo show, and showcase my work in prestigious galleries and exhibitions.
I envision myself partaking in collaborations that bridge the gap between fine art and high fashion that allow me to further explore the subject matter I love to work with while sending a positive message to the world.
My latest collection will consist of large-scale works that combine all the subjects I love to paint; portraits, fashion, still life’s & bits of nature into aesthetic scenes, while linking back to my fashion roots with editorial-like compositions. As I progress deeper into my journey I am gravitating more towards surrealism; blurring the lines between reality and fiction, luring viewers into my stylized dreamworlds. Creating paintings that halt the thoughts and let you escape even if only for a moment…and finally letting go of the fear of being misunderstood.
Throughout my teenage years, I explored various artistic mediums, eventually falling in love with oil paint. I moved to New York City to study fashion design. While pursuing a career in fashion design took precedence initially, my heart never strayed far from art. Over a decade in the denim industry honed my design skills but left me longing and missing the creative “artist” part of me.
In 2022, after over a decade of living in New York City, I made the decision to return to Rochester. Reconnecting with my hometown and the place where I first fell in love with oil painting, reignited the spark of inspiration, and motivated me to reclaim my identity as an artist. In 2023, I signed the lease to my first art studio, and decided to just be an artist, no matter what it takes, marking a pivotal moment in my artistic journey.
Now fully committed to my art, I am balancing my passion with a full-time career in fashion design. My aspirations include transitioning to full-time artist in the near future, curate a cohesive collection and debut my first solo show, and showcase my work in prestigious galleries and exhibitions.
I envision myself partaking in collaborations that bridge the gap between fine art and high fashion that allow me to further explore the subject matter I love to work with while sending a positive message to the world.
My latest collection will consist of large-scale works that combine all the subjects I love to paint; portraits, fashion, still life’s & bits of nature into aesthetic scenes, while linking back to my fashion roots with editorial-like compositions. As I progress deeper into my journey I am gravitating more towards surrealism; blurring the lines between reality and fiction, luring viewers into my stylized dreamworlds. Creating paintings that halt the thoughts and let you escape even if only for a moment…and finally letting go of the fear of being misunderstood.