ABOUT MELISSA

Born in Los Angeles, California, Melissa Marquardt has lived the majority of her life in southern California. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree with the emphasis in Visual Communications from California State University, Chico in 1991.

Melissa has always leaned towards being a creative. She is a self-taught artist who, only recently, started taking workshops and classes to expand her knowledge of techniques and processes. In the mid 1990s, Melissa painted residential murals and faux finishes. In 2002, she put the brushes down and worked almost exclusively as a freelance graphic designer allowing her to spend more time at home raising her two children with her husband Brett. Her focus in design was corporate identity, event branding and illustration in the fashion industry. In 2016, Melissa picked the brushes back up and has been creating contemporary abstract works that have been very well received by collectors all over the United States and internationally.

Melissa draws inspiration from the natural, earthy tones of the landscapes surrounding her home in Encinitas, California. From the rich blues and warm tans of the Pacific coastline to the golden grasses and deep greens of the lagoons, estuaries, and hillside trails she explores, her palette is deeply rooted in place. Working primarily with cold wax and oil, she builds up many opaque and translucent layers, then selectively removes or reworks them to reveal textures and marks that echo the organic shapes found in nature. This process allows each painting to develop its own quiet complexity and tactile history. Subtle metallic accents are occasionally introduced to catch light in unexpected ways, adding depth and movement. Melissa’s work is designed to harmonize with its environment—offering a serene, grounded presence that enhances a space rather than competing with it.