I was born and raised in Orange County, Ca., where I still reside. I currently attend College as an Art Major, with the intentions of getting my Masters. In 2004, I started painting and haven't been able to stop doing some form of art. I enjoy showing others what I see in animals and our environment.

I am currently an Art Instructor in one of the largest private art studios in the U.S., I teach children aged four to thirteen. I teach in the mediums of line drawing, charcoal, tones, sketching, pastel and watercolor. What has become a signature piece for me, are my abstract texture paintings. These paintings are broken up into triangles. Each triangle is painted individually as a single abstract painting using different techniques to make each unique. Examples of things added to these paintings would be shells, glass, beads, feathers, & sand.

Working mostly in Oil, I also work with charcoal, pastel, watercolor, scratch art, ceramics and Photography. In most of my paintings, I like to paint very smooth and use an array of colors. You will find a variety of different blues in my paintings, blue is a very calming color for me. My love for the ocean, cetaceans, pinnipeds, nature and other animals are what inspire me to paint. One of my main goals is to bring people into a painting through the eyes of the animals I paint. The animal's eyes help me express a feeling that I want to portray in each of my paintings. My latest endeavor has been working with Rio Films, on a sea lion coloring book. In collaboration with their Sea lion Documentary, I created thirty-five drawings of California Sea lions.This is soon to be out in many rescue centers, aquariums, zoos and other locations that the documentary is already being sold. Next, I will be doing the artwork for a children's book. So there will be many new and exciting ways to find my artwork.

Raising money for animals in need, those on the endangered species list or for the common household pet, is one of the main goals I have with my artwork. I currently volunteer at Pacific Marine Mammal Center, in Laguna Beach. This has given me a greater appreciation for animals, especially seals and sea lions. It has also educated me and allowed me to be a lot closer to the animals. This is one small way I can give my time to help the animals, but I also donate my artwork there too! Thank you for your interest and I hope you have enjoyed my passion, the love I have for animals and creating art.

Melinda Read

Artist History

Education:

1996- Present
Fullerton College, Part-time
Fullerton, Ca.

Personal Experience:

2004- Present 
Mission Renaissance Fine Art Classes, Instructor
Drawing, Pastel, Watercolor, & Still Life

Selected Solo Exhibitions:

2008  
Tully's Coffee Shop, Irvine, Ca.

2007
Tully's Coffee Shop, Irvine, Ca.

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2008
Mission Renaissance Instructor Show, Irvine, Ca.

2007
Fullerton College Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition, Fullerton, Ca.
Mendocino Marine Wildlife Juried Art Show, Mendocino Art Center, Mendocino, Ca.
W.O.C.A. Warehouse of Contemporary Art, April, July, OctoberAnaheim, Ca

2006
-Art on the Harbor
-Niguel Art Association, August & October, Dana Point, Ca.
-Newport Beach 100 Years, Between the Piers, Newport Beach, Ca.
-Tallships Festival, Niguel Art Association, Dana Point, Ca.
-Mendocino Marine Wildlife, Juried Art Show, Mendocino Art Center, Mendocino, Ca.
-W.O.C.A. Warehouse of Contemporary Art, Jan, Mar, Apr, May, Aug, Sept, Oct, Anaheim, Ca.
-Bash 2005- Music Festival, Anaheim, Ca.
-Art Angles Gallery, Orange, Ca.
-Fullerton College Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition, Fullerton, Ca.
-Icons of Surf, Surf Shop, San Clemente, Ca.
-Fullerton College Annual Juried, Student Art Show, Fullerton, Ca.
-W.O.C.A. Warehouse of Contemporary Art, November & December, Anaheim, Ca.

Donations:

2008
Pacific Marine Mammal Center,  Laguna Beach, Ca.
Piece of Artwork for Silent Auction at their Sunset Cruise, Volunteer

2007
Pacific Marine Mammal Center,  Laguna Beach, Ca.
Piece of Artwork for Silent Auction at their Sunset Cruise,Volunteer

Relay for Life, Cancer Marathon, Piece of Artwork

Demolay of California, Anaheim, Ca.
Piece of Artwork for Silent Auction

2005
Demolay of California, Anaheim, Ca.
Piece of Artwork for Silent Auction

Photography Used:

2008
Pacific Marine Mammal Center,  Laguna Beach, Ca.
Image selected for Christmas Card, calendar, Miscellaneous prints for cards, Brochures
and overall use, photographer for events .

2008
Laguna Beach Daily Pilot Article for the PMMC Masquerade Ball
Image from 2007 telling about the event
Given credit for four images for 2008 after the event.

2007
Pacific Marine Mammal Center,  Laguna Beach, Ca.
Image selected for Christmas Card
Miscellaneous prints for cards, brochures, and overall use, photographer for events

    Updated: 11-22-08