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, November 21, 2011

Gettin' It Done

Here are some paintings that I have been working on that are almost done. I got quite a bit of good painting done last night.

This one still needs another layer on the name and it will have some fun monkeys.

Jayla's is practically done. It's all cleaned up, but I think I am going to re-do the nose and then varnish.

This is for Jayla's baby sister, Aubrey, who took over her Love Bug room. This one need a bit of cleaning up on the edges, but is pretty much done.

This 3 piece set of damask swirls for my friend, Stephanie, for her new office at Fifth Third Bank here in Smyrna. I cleaned up the swirls last night with the cream color. Now, I just need to go back with the black and Clean them up a bit more and refine it a bit.

Should be back with some more pics here soon. Got several other paintings that I am about to get started on as well. God Bless!

So Thankful for Faithful Strokes

I am so blessed to Have met Lisa Butler, owner and artist of Faithful Strokes, about 2 years ago when I went to her studio to paint for a wedding shower. I spoke to her back then about my art business and she said if she ever expanded she would be in touch. Recently Faithful Strokes expanded from one store in Murfreesboro to a second store in Smyrna. She and I emailed back and forth and she asked me to assist with instructing some classes. I started going to some of her classes about a month ago. Had my trial run this past Wednesday with some friends and then my first class this past Saturday as an instructor. Things are going so well. I really feel like I fit in well there with Lisa and Lori, the other instructor. Thank you to the ladies at Faithful Strokes and Leslie, with Shine Ettiquette, for making me feel so welcome and comfortable. Check out www.faithfulstrokes.com for more information. They offer many different painting classes for adults and children. You do the painting along with the instructor and leave with your painting that day. You can have parties of all kinds there as well.

My trial run with friends on Wednesday, November 16th. Thanks to all those that participated; their paintings were awesome.

My first actual class with a church group on Saturday, November 19th. It went really well and all the ladies' paintings turned out great.This painting is the one I chose for my first class and it's a design of Lisa's called Merry Christmas Darling. I love this painting!This is a painting I went in and done with Lisa. Beautiful fall scene!This is a beautiful cross design of Lisa's that I went in and practiced with her and a class a few weeks ago.

I hope you all will go check out www.faithfulstrokes.com and check out all her designs and, if you are local, come visit a class. It has been awesome being a part of this awesome place.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Fun at Faithful Strokes

I wanted to tell you all about Faithful Strokes in Murfreesboro, TN. Lisa Butler is the artist there and designer of these two paintings. I painted these along with her and had a blast. Check out www.faithfulstrokes.com to see all her designs and sign up for a fun class with friends, family or co-workers. She does paintings for birthday parties, showers, team-building, children and much more. Host your next event with her and do something fun and different. You will walk out with a painting of your own that night to keep or give as a gift. Go check it out!

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.