Biography
Melissa Marler
Melissa Marler is an artist originally from Caracas, Venezuela, who moved to Calgary, Alberta, as a child. She began drawing at a young age and received over eight years of semi-private lessons with professional artists in Calgary. She later graduated from the International Baccalaureate program in visual arts during high school and most recently earned a BFA in Painting and Drawing from OCAD University. Currently, she resides in Calgary, where she works as the Lead Children's Facilitator at Pinnovate DIY Studios.
In her artistic practice, Melissa explores diverse themes with each painting. She focuses on the relationship between figures and their environments, investigating how body language, facial expressions, and subtle alterations of the surroundings can convey narrative and emotion. By expressing her own feelings in the moment of creation, she aims to evoke a deeper emotional response in her work.
Artist Statement
Melissa is currently focused on developing her unique style and insights within her art practice. She alternates between realistic and abstract approaches, using specific elements in each painting to amplify the emotions present in that moment. She particularly enjoys enhancing lighting and contrast, creating dreamlike colors that contribute to a dramatic, surreal effect.
Preferring oil and acrylic paints, Melissa often portrays human figures or skeletons. Drawing from her own photographs or her imagination, she aims for a realistic rendering while introducing painterly or gestural disruptions in the environment. By utilizing figures to create dialogue through soft movements and gestures, or by employing skeletons to evoke an imagined state that distances itself from reality, she seeks to convey relatable emotions.
Through each painting, Melissa aspires to explore new styles and narratives that blend reality and imagination, ultimately enhancing the emotional resonance of her work.