Written by I am Melanie J. Dorsey and although I’ve lived in many places across the U.S., Clearwater, Florida, is where I’ve lived the past 26 years and I happily claim it as my hometown. The Gulf Coast is my favorite place to be and being in the water or on the water (stand up paddle boarding) calms me and also sparks my creativity. I revel in the glory of the subtle hues of ocean, sand and sky.
A pelican swoops down to catch lunch and I am mesmerized by the angle of his bill and the rich truffle brown of his feathers. Sandpipers speckled in sandy shades beg to be painted and I joyfully oblige. The scarlet plumage of the Roseate Spoonbill is breathtaking and I long to watercolor her pale rose and vermilion feathers.
I have no background in art – not in the visual arts anyway. I began my college career as a singer on a music scholarship. My formal degrees are in Communications, Foreign Languages and Education. Through the years, as my husband and I raised our three children and I taught in the classroom, I always had a sense that someday I would paint. I don’t even know when or where the feeling originated. I simply felt if I had a brush in my hand and a canvas before me, I would know what to do.
When I first stood before a blank canvas, I can’t say my vision became reality, however! I began painting with acrylics and had lots of frustration and tears but also some success as I sold quite a lot of paintings. About a year after painting only with acrylics, I picked up a set of cheap watercolors. After the first tiny sketch and painting (of a jar of honey) I wondered, “Why didn’t anyone ever tell me about watercolors?!” I was enthralled with the very first wash of color on paper and I still am!
I practice nearly every day to develop my style, although lately I’m drawn more to a loose style that begins with a few lines of under drawing or none at all. A year ago I used a lot of pen work (Micron (black) and Uni-ball Signo (white) to add details to my watercolors. Sometimes I like to do some hand lettering as a final touch and will use either a .03 or .05 Micron pen or utilize one of my favorite colors – Payne’s Gray, and a Pentel Aquash Water Brush. I currently use Peerless, Winsor & Newton and Sennelier watercolors and the brushes I use most often are rounds, a wash and a mop. My favorite paper is Arches 140 lb. cold press.
The subjects of my watercolors are mostly flowers and birds and treasures I pick up from the hours I spend at our nearby beach. Lately I’m a little obsessed with painting oyster shells. I also enjoy watercoloring on muslin or painter’s drop cloth to make art dolls. Combining watercolor graphite (ArtGraf) with free motion stitching is another way I use watercolor in mixed media.
My heart and soul inspiration comes from my youngest son, Andrew. He was the visual artist in our family and it was some of his art supplies that I began using initially. We lost our precious son in 2009 to brain cancer. He was twelve. I’m so glad he made art and I took lots of pictures of his work and have his larger pieces on display in our home. Andrew’s interest was graffiti art. Art has been a form of therapy for me, as you might imagine. I am able to be only in the moment when I am in a creative flow. Creating is a place of rest for me.
Other artists who inspire me are Junelle Jacobsen for her playful and whimsical watercolor style, Tiffani Taylor for her loose expressionism and poetic prose, and I’m wowed by the realistic botanicals of Anna Mason. Other watercolorists I’ve recently discovered via Instagram are Steve Mitchell (Mind of Watercolor) whose landscapes intrigue me and also the host of this website, Charlie O’Shields. I particularly relate to the statement in Charlie’s about page where he confides he has absolutely no experience with watercolor. Yet, his watercolors on Instagram immediately caught my eye!
With so many talented watercolorists and the accessibility of viewing their work online, it would be easy for a novice like me to get caught up in comparison and thus frustration. However, everyone starts somewhere and some starts begin later than others. When I focus on my own creative practice and allow myself to truly be inspired by the talent and discipline of another artist, I find joy in my progress. It is not perfection that brings pleasure; it is finding that place of rest and peace in creating that is fulfilling and sometimes downright exhilarating!
Thanks, Charlie, for allowing me to be doodlewashed!
Melanie J. Dorsey
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It’s awesome.. Could you please draw a fantasy Map…. Plzz☺☺☺
Thanks for reading!
What an inspiring story. I can’t imagine losing a child but what a wonderful way to preserve his memory. Thank you for sharing your story!
Thank you. I appreciate your comment.
Thank you for sharing your story 🙂
Thank you for reading, Margaret!
Thank you for your insights. I have been intimidated about starting to use some watercolors I bought some time ago. Your words help me refocus on the fact that it is the peaceful process that I crave and my style will evolve.
Oh yes, please give it a try! I think you’ll love it!
Your joy shines through your paintings! am sorry for the loss of your dear son, but how awesome to have his artwork to remember him by. He surely would be proud of your artistic pursuits and paintings! Just lovely 🙂
Carol, Thank you for such a lovely comment about joy! I choose joy!
Lovely art and story. Thank you for sharing Melanie’s art Charlie. I have followed on Instagram.
Thank you so much and thanks for the follow on IG!
Your work is beautiful and your story inspiring. Look up Julie Haines an English watercolor artist. You will love her style.
Ah, thank you very much. I’ll look her up today! Thanks!
Yep! You are right. I do love her style!
Beautiful Melanie, thank you for sharing. Thank you Charlie.
Thank you so much, Sharon!
Melanie, I can’t imagine losing a child. My heart goes out to you. He left you quite a gift, a passion for what impassioned him, and though I know you’d love to have him back more than anything, I imagine you feel him in your heart each time you pick up a paintbrush.
Thank you! I feel like my son’s art gift got deposited in me. And yes, he’s in my heart and on my mind.
Your style is your own, and I especially like your colors. Thanks for sharing your story. (K(
Thank you so much, MEMADTWO for your sweet comment.
Hi Melanie! Nice to meet you here, and I look forward to getting to know you and your work. I am so sorry for your loss. Breaks my heart. I am glad you have your beautiful art.
Hi Jodi, Thank you for your kind comments. I look forward to seeing more of your work on IG – I love your loose florals!
You do AMAZING work, Melanie! I’m thrilled to know you and to enjoy several of your beautiful art pieces in our home.
Thank you dear friend!
Beautiful story! I especially love your oyster!
I will paint one for you!
Beautiful art work Melanie and a very inspirational post, I too love Paynes Gray.
Hi Cathe, Thank you so much! (I like Paynes Gray in the Golden Fluid acrylic as well.)
Beautiful work, Melanie!
Thanks so much!