artists BIO

DeAnn Melton

I have often painted vertical still lifes, but not as narrow as these. As I worked on 60x70 inch paintings I kept thinking about extracting a long sliver of the painting. My main interest was the compositional complexities and how much fun it would be to work within that perimeter. Then the concept of mixing still life with images of nature, birds, insects or whatever became another challenge within the narrow structure and not just a “slice”. Painting the forms of birds whether they were elongated for flight, bending their necks to search for food or to observe, extending a wing or wings interest me. Then there is the unending pursuit of color with birds in various environments.

The number of paintings grew on the wall as finished paintings were hung next to each other. The possibility evolved of the long narrow paintings being presented with as many or as few as needed to become one unit. This series of canvases have the base name of Baluster which derives from terminology for a long vertical architectural element.

 I grew up in Lubbock, Texas, graduating from Texas Tech University with a B.F.A.  My M.F.A. degree was received from the University of Arizona.