Bayou at Buccatuna

5" X 12" acrylic, oil pastel, ink, charcoal, and marker on panel for Paint Party Friday

This little one is the very last from the series of paintings I created this summer after a visit to my childhood stomping grounds in south Mississippi. I still cannot get enough of this gold, magenta, red viloet, and black color combination, although I'm pretty sure I never saw a sunset like this even on Buccatunna Creek. The mystery of those forested wetlands and the dark shallows of the swamps inspired this painting, just the same. Bayou at Buccatunnna is currrently available at Lucas Road Fine Art and Jewelry, and, if you're interested in purchasing it, you can just give my friend Neubern a call (601) 483-0028.

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

Arts in Atlanta: Carol Reynolds

I am very happy to announce the start of a series of interviews of artists from the metro Atlanta area. The first featured artist is my new and dear friend, the incredibly talented Carol Reynolds. Carol is an artist who creates mosaics on found and constructed objects, using ceramic tiles that she makes and fires herself. She is so successful that her work practically flies out the door of The Decatur Market and Gallery, particulary her manequin mosaics. One day Carol walked into the gallery with a mosaic I loved so much that I commissioned a similar piece before she even hung it on the wall! You can see my beautiful Euby Darlin' pictured just below. Carol says that the wonderful thing about mosaics is that they are "so versatile and so forgiving. Accuracy and perfection are not required. As a result, gratification can be immediate." Now, who doesn't love immediate gratification?




Which five words best describe you?
Openminded, flexible, easy, loyal, spacey


When did you decide to become an artist?
When my friend let me use her ceramics studio and didn't laugh at what I created


What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way?
To let things go if you can't do anything about them





What’s your proudest career achievement?
Hmmm....artistically..... the first time I applied, submitted images and got accepted to a show -- all on my own.

What three artists have influenced you most and why?
Dolores Fawkes (she's my mentor and a non-blood sister; most folks have no idea how many Artists she's helped. She let me use her studio, didn't laugh at my early efforts, and gave me the push to think about doing it on my own)
Kate Anderson (she's an instructor at the Spruill Center and got me hooked on mosaics)
I don't have a third...

What influences your work?
I’m always thinking of ways to combine as many types of tile as I can -- the more textures and dimensions, the better. And…I’m all about recycling. Fortunately for me, if I find a piece that’s a bit battered or scarred, I can still use it. That’s the beauty of mosaics…nothing has to be perfect!






What’s on your cd player while you’re creating?
Right now, I'm listening to The Braves on the radio. But...if I want music... I'm listening to Lucinda Williams, Howie Day, Matt Nathanson or Augustana, And...I'm always up for Warrn Zevon or Jackson Browne.

What are you reading?
Unfortunately, nothing at the moment. But I really enjoy Michael Connelly and Lee Child novels.

What’s been your best decision?
To marry the man I married.



Who would you like to trade places with for one day? Why?
This is a hard one...I'm really in a pretty good place right now. Yeah, I think I'm okay.

What inspires you?
Anytime anyone forgets about him/her self and just does what's right.




What are you passionate about?
The Golden Rule

Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet?
Anyone on the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Louisiana Territory.


What dream do you still want to fulfill?
Travel to all of the continents. I've got South America, Africa and the Poles left.

What are you currently working on?
I’ve just finished getting things ready for two upcoming shows; so I’m taking a bit of a break – at least for this week. My next job will be getting more ceramic tiles made for a large mirror that’s waiting for me.




You can see more of Carol's art on display at the Decatur Market and Gallery on 153 Ponce de Leon Place and at the Chastain Arts Festival the first weekend in November.