Beautifully-designed, Custom, Hand-painted Art

Being an artist was one of my childhood dreams. To draw, design and to glorify Christ is now my passion. I am the artist, Melissa Jackson, and while I specialize in lettering & matching nursery/child bedding, I can custom design almost anything you can dream up on canvas, wood, glass, fondant, or wall! Art is great for any room of your home or as a unique gift. I have also enjoyed painting many murals. God has blessed me and I would love to pass that on to you!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Preston's a Lion!!

This is the cardboard cutout thing I did for my friend's son's carnival theme birthday party with Preston behind it! So fun and so cute with the kids behind it!

Friday, August 8, 2008

Finally Finished...and Just in Time

I got a lot of good painting done yesterday and last night and just varnished the paintings I have been posting about for Abigail, Ryan, and baby Jayla (due in November to my best friend Angie). I had the bedding to look at for Abby and Ryan, but for Jayla, all I had to look at was basically this http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2743521 . I had a very small pamphlet from Babies 'R' Us, but the pic on the Internet is about the same size. I hope the parents like them...

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Paintings for Baby Jayla

These are for a gift for a baby shower, so if anyone reads this and knows Angie and John DON"T tell them!!! PLEASE!!! I just wanted to post these while they are in progress too. I need to have these finished by Sunday for the shower. (I've got a lot of painting to do-I should be painting instead of posting) I really only think one person reads by blog anyhow. (Thanks, Rach) I love the bedding they picked-Love Bug by Carter's-so cute! My plan is to do the name on the one with the wavy frame and then do some flowers/lady bugs/butterflies from the pattern on the the other, but I may need to do it opposite now that I think about it-yeah. Ok, I think as I blog...Oh, well...I'll have updates on these soon as well since I need to finish them too.

A Lion for Ryan

My friend's son Ryan is turning two tomorrow and her sis-in-law had a great idea to do a carnival theme; I think it is so cute and unique! They asked me to paint a lion with the face cut out so the kiddies could take their pictures through it. So here it is! The face is not cut out yet because I need to do an accurate measurement of a two year old face. Anyhow, this was fun to paint. Not perfect by any means, but I think it will be cute with the kids behind it. I am also going to do face painting there and do little lion faces on them before they take their picture.

By the way, this is the birthday party I have to have the striped paintings done before; I better get to work, it's on Saturday!

Update on "Works in Progress"

Here are the two paintings I last blogged about with the additions in the center and "whited out" to make them faint because the names will also go in the middle. I am giving one of these at a birthday party this weekend (see next post), so the names will be done soon. I almost wish there was some way I didn't have to white out the pics in the middle because they are just so cute (the pictures themselves, not necessarily the way I painted them); I was just so in love with the stripes! The final pics will be posted soon.

General Info

All of the pieces of art and the respective pictures on this blog were created by Melissa Jackson.

All information is owned by the artist and requires permission for use.

All art is created on high quality gallery-style canvas (edges wrapped) acrylic paint and protected with a glossy varnish. Other mediums are available such as glass, wood, fondant painting, etc, Lettering is both hand-designed and hand-painted by the artist and stencils are never used. Your piece will come wrapped and with a coordinating ribbon long enough to attach to the back as a hanging option; otherwise the piece can be immediately hung simply with a nail.

Payment is required at time of order and payments are only accepted via PayPal unless you are local. A detailed invoice will be emailed to you with a link to PayPal where you can pay using checking account information as well as a debit or credit card. You DO NOT have to be a member of PayPal to utilize this free service. Shipping is additional and will be based on shipping method and size of item and will be determined up front. The nominal shipping charge will include insurance in case it is lost in the mail.

Sorry no refunds because art is custom made and designed for you. However, I will work with you on design and show pictures as your piece is created to make sure you are COMPLETELY SATISFIED!

Painting Lessons Available!

I am now offering painting/art lessons for individuals, groups, children, young adults, and adults. Art is not focused on very much in the schools/community in relation to other activities yet it can offer a stress-relieving and fun outlet for children and adults alike. It is a teachable skill and is helpful in developing the creative side of your brain.

SINGLE SESSION ADULT/TEENAGER(1.5 hrs)/PAINTING OF YOUR CHOICE ON A CANVAS UP TO 16X20 (landscape, still life, abstract, lettering) $60*

5 SESSIONS ADULT/TEENAGER(1.5 hrs)-SERIES OF PAINTINGS TO INCLUDE LANDSCAPE, STILL LIFE, ABSTRACT, LETTERING, WATERCOLOR TECHNIQUES ALL ON CANVASES UP TO 16X20 $250*($50 discount from single sessions)

SINGLE SESSION CHILD (2-12) (1 hr)/PAINTING OF THE PARENT'S CHOICE, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST STILL LIFE, ABSTRACT, OR WATER COLOR $50*

5 SESSIONS CHILD (2-12) (1.25 hrs)-SERIES OF PAINTINGS TO INCLUDE LANDSCAPE, STILL LIFE, ABSTRACT, LETTERING, WATERCOLOR TECHNIQUES ALL ON CANVASES UP TO 16X20 $200* ($50 discount from single sessions)

GROUP PRICING FOR CHILDREN OR ADULTS WILL DEPEND ON SINGLE/MULTIPLE SESSIONS AND HOW MANY ARE IN THE GROUP, BUT DISCOUNTS WILL BE OFFERED

MURAL DESIGN/ASSISTANCE/LESSONS ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL; INQUIRE ABOUT PRICING

*All supplies will be provided: canvas, acrylic/watercolor paint, brushes, smocks, and anything else that will be needed; you will take home finished art project(s)

GENERAL INFO: While do have a BSBA from Aquinas, I am NOT professionally trained in art. My art lessons stem from what I have gleaned from being an artist for 25 years and a painter for 9 years as well as attending some independent art sessions offered through art supply stores and teaching art. In addition to just creating a painting, other lessons will be taught while paintings are in progress such as color mixing, brush types and usage, determining canvas and paint quality, protecting and caring for tools and paintings, using painting tools/techniques, painting circles/lines, etc...

Please feel free to ask any questions; I am open to and welcome any suggestions. There are many sizes and style of canvas as well as hundreds of art techniques; some I know and some I do not, but we can always try anything. Longer lessons/larger canvases are available for an additional fee and more difficult ideas can be shown such a damask painting. All paintings will not be finished in one session, so the customer may feel free to paint from home or purchase additional sessions. Payment will be due in full via PayPal prior to any lessons. I can invoice you (you do not have to be a member) and you can pay using any check or credit card.

I am also available for parties of any kind (bachelorette, birthday, shower, etc...) and can also offer face painting and face painting lessons; please inquire about pricing. I can come to your home or you can come to mine for individual sessions, but for groups a place will be determined at the time of purchase based on the number in the group.

Thank you and I hope you will inquire about painting lessons.