Arts in Atlanta: Melissa Payne Baker

What emotions drive the creation of your art?
All emotions, I can be in any mood and I always come away from my studio happy.

What experiences led you to become an artist? When did you make the decision to be an artist?
I come from a family of artist so I grew up always creating. Two of my girlfriends and I started art night over ten years ago and it has grown to over 15 girls. One of the original art night girls who was my best friend was killed in a car accident seven years ago. She always wanted me to sell my work so I took that first step and put a painting in a Christ the King school auction, it was in a bidding war that evening and sold, the next day I got an order for another one...it just blew up from there.

Is your art goal-oriented?
I just start painting and I go wherever the painting takes me.

What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about friends, love, art, design and happiness.

How would you describe yourself?
I am a very busy person, I might look calm on the outside but my mind is going in a million directions. I am very detailed and organized. I never rest.



What artistic challenges do you face?
Finding my next technique or design, trying too hard to make it perfect.



What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned as an artist?
Not to try so hard, just let it flow.

What’s your proudest artistic achievement?
I am proud of the beautiful galleries I am in, being Atlanta's best emerging artist last year.

What artists have influenced you most and why?
Steve Penley, I love his use of color and texture.



What’s been your best decision?
My best decision was to just jump into being a professional artist, best thing I have ever done.

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet?
I always say..I would love to have lunch with Gwyneth Paltrow or Grace Kelly. Both women are the picture of class.

What are you currently reading or listening to?
I am into Jack Johnson; his music is very fun in the studio.

Who would you like to trade places with for one day?
The three year old I keep, Mac. I would love to view the world like a child again.



What dream do you still want to fulfil?
So many! One that comes to mind is to have my art in Traditional Homes or Veranda or, hey, Town and Country would be nice too!

What subject would you like to portray in your art that you have not yet attempted?
A mushroom, only because I took a picture of a beautiful orange one at a friend's lake. It didn't look real. It was amazing.

Thank you, Melissa.

Melissa teaches palette knife classes and is represented in a number of galleries throughout the southeast. You can meet her in person this Friday night to enjoy wine, snacks, and a blue grass band, with several other new artists, at Huff Harrington Fine Art's Grand Affair where all paintings will all be priced under $1000.



for Three Muses' Artist of Choice and Crazy Amigos