Enjoy the charming portfolio of painter Melinda Patrick, who captures the sunny side of life with her brush. See more by visiting her website.
![Painting of three boats in a harbor](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/the-fleet_acrylic_18x18.jpg)
“The Fleet” acrylic, 18″ x 18″
My entire family was very supportive of my art endeavors. My grandfather, also a painter, pushed me into it. The summer before I graduated high school, my mother let me invite my friends over to paint a wall of my bedroom any way we wanted. Her only regret was the black paint we used because it was hard to cover when she repainted the room.
![painting of three pelicans](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/then-there-were-3_acrylic_12x12.jpg)
“Then There Were Three” acrylic, 12″ x 12″
In high school I attended the Houston Museum of Fine Art class and had encouraging teachers in my junior and senior high school art classes. My junior high teacher brought in a student from PE class every week to sit so I could draw a portrait in chalk pastels. She gave me a booth in the annual school festival fundraiser just to do portraits in chalk.
![Painting of beach chairs and umbrellas](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/take-a-seat_acrylic_20x24.jpg)
“Take a Seat” acrylic, 20″ x 24″
I stopped painting to raise my kids, earning a living as a graphic and web designer with illustration on the side. After the kids were grown, I started back painting just to have art for the walls of a house we were building. Soon after, I became a lending library of paintings for my kids.
![painting of a storefront with bicycles](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/color-happy_acrylic_12x12.jpg)
“Color=Happy” acrylic, 12″ x 12″
I shoot thousands of photos everywhere I go. I look through them constantly to determine if any should become a painting and if so, what should the focus be?
![painting of a dinghy at the dock](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/boat-with-red-stripe_acrylic_10x10.jpg)
“Boat with Red Stripe” acrylic, 10″ x 10″
It took me awhile to realize that photos don’t completely tell the story I want to tell. After laying out the image, I put the photo away and paint what I want to see.
![painting of rocking chairs on a porch](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/rocking-the-lake_acrylic_16x16.jpg)
“Rocking the Lake” acrylic, 16″ x 16″
I gravitate towards heavy color and bright hues. I sketch the painting with a heavy, dark outline. Then I build the shapes using just about any color of paint that’s handy. Those base colors will be covered over in many layers of paint. Then the fun begins as I flesh out the shapes. And last, I add any detail it needs to finish, making sure I don’t overpaint.
![street scene painting](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/the-traveler_acrylic_30x24.jpg)
“The Traveler” acrylic, 30″ x 24″
I have two studios. One is in a pine forest and one in the Texas Hill country. I zone out with music and solitude except for my two studio dogs who alert me to any cars or deer going past. I grew up in a big city, went to college in a big city, but I’d love to live in a beach area, so I paint a lot of beach imagery.
![Painting of deck chairs at the beach](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/on-deck_acrylic_12x9.jpg)
“On Deck” acrylic, 12″ x 9″
Every one of my collectors buy my art for the good feeling they get from it. My art is never gloomy or political, just something hopeful or inspiring: eye candy.
![Painting of a house](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cliff-house_acrylic_12x12.jpg)
“Cliff House” acrylic, 12″ x 12″
I welcome commissions. Most popular are house portraits. Having an artist’s interpretation of a home or place you love or miss is a treasure. I have also taken commissions for places and one for a portrait of a lady I’d never seen.
Melinda Patrick invites you to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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