MUSEUM OF MEL

Melanie Dion, Visual Artist

I studied painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), graduating in 2014. While there I predominately worked in oil, but in my 4th year at PAFA became increasingly interested in watercolor. I love the portability and freedom that the medium provides. 

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In 2016, I was a resident at the Sam and Adele Golden Foundation for the Arts where I was able to explore techniques of displaying works on paper without glass by layering materials to fix down the pigment. This way when the works are varnished the watercolor does not smear while being protected from physical damage and fading.

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I work in a variety of ways including, plein air landscape, studio landscape, figurative, and representationsl. I work directly, meaning that I build the painting out without drawing in pencil first. This is very much informed by my studies at PAFA, and lends itself to a more natural and free asthetic.