2011 MSAA Art Showcase Entrants

View this month’s Artist of the Month

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Melissa Shelton – Greenbrier, TN

I have always loved art. Some of my fondest memories are of sitting with my mom in her art studio while she taught me to paint in oils as young as 6 years old. Two of my inspirations have always been my family and nature. When I started painting in watercolors a few years ago, I joined my two inspirations and started painting flowers and people who are dear to me. When I was diagnosed with MS 16 years ago, I decided that MS was not going to stop me from doing the things that I love. It has slowed me down considerably, but it has not stopped me. I still enjoy nature with my family and work hard to prove to my children that life can still be happy and fulfilling even with challenges. I do as much as I possibly can with my family and try not to use this disease as an excuse to get out of things. MS is ridiculously prominent in the women in my family. My main goal in raising my children is to teach them to be strong. They see me cry at times, but most of the time they see me laugh. My children and my husband are my inspiration as I see them help and support me, as well as the other women in my life experiencing this disease: my mom, my sister, my aunt and my cousin.

 

Calla Lillies


Discovery


Pondering