Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Sims.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I went to UGA and got a degree in photography and art history. After that, I got a job at a painting sweatshop where I was surrounded by a lot of college-educated painters. I painted over a hundred paintings every year for at least six years for this company, so naturally, I started to love painting. I still took photographs and began using them as inspiration for my paintings. In 2000, I went to burning man and decided I needed to leave Atlanta. I moved to Los Angeles. on my way across the country and all over SoCal, I fell in love with neon signs and started to include them in my paintings. I had a great supportive artist community in LA, but after my dad died, I and my husband and daughter decided to move back to Atlanta.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a super smooth road… but I have also, never had to be a starving artist. I am one of my biggest problems… I am terrible at promoting myself and trying to find new galleries and venues. I would be a great rep for other artists, but not myself. Another rough patch was in 2008 when the market crashed. Many of the galleries that I was within SoCal had to close. At the same time, I had my daughter, and between being a new mom and my husband was traveling more with his band, I lost the little bit of courage to reach out to galleries. Now that I am in Atlanta, I am having to start all over again.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Melissa Sims – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My paintings are fun. When someone asks me to describe my work, I say it is pop-arty, collage-y, photo-realistic… fun. The other day, I woman told me how she likes to make up stories when looking at my work and I love that. I want people to use their imagination and decide what they think the painting says, not what I am trying to say with my painting.
My style is the same but my subject matters change slightly. You can rest assured that in 95% of my work, there will be a neon sign, but I have gone through pin-up girl phases, toys, vintage paint by numbers (although I still like them) and now vintage pinball machines.
I always use a resin finish, in addition to making the colors pop, it also makes them pretty durable!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My plans are to continue with what I am doing. Even when I get frustrated and I look at a stack of paintings that are unsold, I still get excited about an idea and start working on another painting.
Pricing:
- 1’x1′ painting $800
- 2’x3′ $2200
- 2’x4′ $2400
Contact Info:
- Website: melissasimsart.com
- Phone: 213-924-9911
- Email: melissaslettedahl@gmail.com
- Instagram: melslettedahl
- Facebook: melissa sims
Image Credit:
Melissa Sims
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