http://www.waxportraits.com

A native of Northern Kentucky, Donna pursued a Fine Arts degree at the Art Academy of Cincinnati where she studied sculpting, painting and print making, graduating in 1966. She worked for several area toy companies, Kenner Toys and Hasbro, sculpting boy’s action figures and girls toys. Changing direction, Donna became a United States Mint sculptor-engraver in July, 2000 and held the job for 5 1/2 years, retiring in 2006. She is now part of the Artistic Infusion Program at the Mint and designs for specific coin and medal programs. Her work is in collections in this country and Europe.

Being familiar with sculpting in wax and an interest in history, Donna revived the art of miniature bas-relief wax portraiture, which was popular in the United States between 1750 and 1840. Named one of Early American Life Magazine’s best artisans, her wax portraits have been judged to be of museum quality.

She divides her time between sculpting the wax portraits, gallery exhibits, and commissioned work. Donna also participates in living history events from Virginia to Illinois. The portraits are sculpted in low relief in wax and then placed on reverse painted glass and framed to order. They can be purchased unframed or framed and the prices range form $100 to $165 each, $10 for shipping.

We were moving to San Francisco and I took the loom with me. I found a group of elderly weavers who had been meeting for years. They taught me traditional weaving – ‘the old original way.’ Today I have four floor looms, and assortment of table looms and a tapestry loom.”

All of this experience has been shared with many. While living in the Bay area in the early 1970s Melodee worked in a weaving store. She also took classes and workshops in fiber arts. This was the “flower child” era and all kinds of ethnic fabrics and homespun clothes were in fashion. Wearable art was sought after and admired.

From there she opened her own shop called “Sheep to Shawl” where she sold supplies and taught classes. “I enjoyed teaching, and gave private lessons as well. A friend and I organized a private crafts show every year at Christmas where we showcased over 40 artisans. Both of these ventures were very successful, but when my second child was little I gave them up. I continued to create pieces at home and was always learning by doing. I have always sewn and worked with my hands. It comes naturally.”

Originally from Chicago, Melodee holds a college degree in Interior Design. Now that her children are grown, she and her husband have moved back to his family’s homestead in Indiana. Melodee’s studio is evolving and soon will include a dyeing room. She dyes fleece, yarn after it is spun, as well as silk and cotton fabrics. Dyeing is a science within itself. The natural dyes are made with plants and things that you find outside, such as eucalyptus. She does use some synthetic dyes, and mordants which are natural chemicals that assist the setting of the colors. These include chrome, copper, iron, tin and alum.

Other crafts that Melodee is familiar with are felting, a process where you create fabric from wool by abrasion. In wet felting you crisscross and rub the fibers which causes them to stick to each other. Kunikimo is a form of Japanese braiding. Tamari is Japanese embroidery on rice balls.

Asked if she considers herself an artist Medodee responds, “I am proud to be a craftsperson. If someone looks upon it as art, that’s terrific.” Melodee’s work can be found at Signatures Art Gallery and The Mercantile in Vevay, Indiana.

417 Poplar Street
Downtown Rising Sun

Artist Statement
My art is inspired by the natural world but it is gravitating toward being more about ideas, than things. When it is representational about a visual picture, I hope to communicate a mood and appreciation of the image as well as recognition of the item. Tolstoy defines art as “the transmission of an emotion felt by the artist marks. Art is the language of feelings, coordinate with speech, which is the language of thought.” I would give art the ability to communicate both emotion and thought. Art is a visual, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional experience to be shared by artist and viewer.

In my own art I try to make a point of communication on both the emotional and intellectual levels. I want the viewer to share the exploration of the idea of kittens (Kittens by the Window), such as the activity and fun, not just an image of a particular kitten. When viewing vegetables, I hope the viewer has the appreciation of their visual beauty, which is part of their sustenance, as well as a sense of bounty.
A farmer, viewing my painting of field corn at harvest time commented, “I never thought of corn as something beautiful enough for a painting!” I want my viewers to journey into a painting then return—changed—seeing a different, more beautiful world. The couple who bought View from Lake Powel relived their trip there, the fun, the beauty, as they viewed the painting. It’s like we were there together for a moment. Art can keep a moment in time, a place, a dream or concept.
I invite the spectator to pause a moment to journey into the images then return refreshed, looking at the world with a new perspective and appreciation

STYLE AND SUBJECTMATTER

My general style may be described as representational, in that the viewer can discern a particular object, a flower, vegetable, landscape. However,my work is becoming more abstract as I try to get the viewer to share an experience or concept, such as movement or distance or thoughts and dreams.

The quaint river towns of Rising Sun and Vevay, as well as every crossroads and ridge in between, are opening their studio doors just for you.  This Free tour offers some new and eclectic art works that touch all mediums.  Sculpture, paint, glass, fiber, steel, wood, photography, American crafts and instrument design combine for a fabulous palette of talent that reside in these two Southeastern Indiana counties.

Meet the artists, tour their studios, and experience what art means to them and how it has affected their lives.  Ohio and Switzerland Counties have many gifted and unique artists.  Now you can visit them virtually any day of the week as well as in person during the CSRP Artist Tour the last weekend in April.  Artist shops and locations are also open year round for visits and purchases.

The Tour is sponsored by the Ohio and Switzerland County Tourism Bureaus.