Hi, I’m Demelsa, but most people call me Mels!
I’m a creative person who loves working with my hands, from woodworking and embroidery to painting and sewing. I enjoy trying new things and taking on projects that push me out of my comfort zone.
People often describe me as cheerful and curious. These days, that curiosity has taken me on the road! I’ve converted a van and I am now traveling full-time, turning my van into an art studio.
From digital to painting
I’ve always loved drawing, and around COVID I started exploring digital art. While it was fun, the rise of AI made me rethink the value of handmade work. Since then, I’ve focused more on creating physical art and spending less time behind screens, connecting more with the outside world!
Life as an artist
After discovering (oil) painting in 2023, I started creating pet portraits and eventually turned it into my full-time business. I loved bringing people's pets to life through paint, but now I'm taking a step back from commissions to focus on creating and sharing more of my own original paintings. I'm also getting to paint animals I meet while traveling, which has been such a fun new part of my painting journey!
My painting style
I work with oil paint, using the alla prima (wet-on-wet) technique. This means I complete a painting in a single session, applying wet paint on top of wet paint rather than letting each layer dry first. I love how it lets me shape the paint and make it feel alive.
I use bold brushstrokes for bodies and backgrounds, smaller details for faces, and occasional pops of bright colour to make the painting lively. The goal is a portrait that feels dynamic and full of life, rather than static or stiff.
