Melissa Koch

Color, texture and light, patterns and shapes emanating from nature have always fascinated me. Much of the inspiration for my work comes from the landscape of flora and fauna that abundantly surrounds us in the Pacific Northwest. The process I use to create my work is what I like to call SLOW ART. Everything that goes into the making of a piece is made by hand from the paper to the paint. The resultant pieces are mixed media combinations of ink, pencil, and paint. Drawn, printed, painted and collaged. Another important aspect of my work is the use of color as a powerful language to create specific moods. Growing up in the Mediterranean I was introduced to the world of mythology. Returning to the USA, an invitation to carve canoes with a Haida carver immersed me in another world of storytelling and a deeper understanding of our connection to nature. I am not connected by identity to any one place but to a blending of many places and influences which can be seen in my work.