ARTIST'S STATEMENT:
"The forests and wetlands are settings that inspire wonder and imagination. It is no wonder that faery stories and fables have been staged in these settings for generations. In trying to recreate the enchantment of the sunlight filtering through the trees, the mischievous laughter of a hidden stream or the impossible flight of a bumblebee, it only seems natural to me to use my art to tell the magic of nature through the magical world of faeries. Polymer clay is a versatile medium for achieving the 'realism' I strive for in each of my creations. Polymer can appear as soft flesh or hard dragon scales. As I work the clay, I am guided by the feel of the sculpture. No molds. No templates. This makes each of my creations unique, full of character, full of life. Bringing the magical, the fantastical, to life is the driving force behind my work. My sculptures are meant to sparkle in the imagination and inspire others to keep magic and nature alive in their everyday lives."

When she’s not sculpting:
Melanie runs a micro dahlia farm with her husband Ben and her father Richard - and their tortoise, Fable! Check out Fable’s Farm Dahlias if you’re into flowers.

She also beads as a hobby. Her favorite technique is called bead embroidery - sewing beads onto a fabric backing in patterns and shapes to create a 3 dimensional form. This combines her love of sculpting and her love for fantasy, one bead at a time! Her beaded creations have won the prestigious gold medal for FireMountain Gems Seed Bead Competition, mulitple ribbons at the Bead Dreams competitions, Beadwork Magazine competition place and runner up prizes, and a judge’s choice at the new Museum of Beadwork in Portland Maine.