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Send Melanie a comment I'd love to hear your comments on the art, website, and events! Send me an email Join my e-mailing list for monthly e-Newsletters full of art, inspiration and updates on events and sales. "I have finally found/taken the time to sit down and tell you how much I appreciated your visit [as Artist in Residence at Earlham College and the Richmond Art Museum, Richmond IN] and having the chance to sit and chat and just experience who you are and what you do. You honestly and truly touched my heart. Every once in a while I'll meet someone who you just know is doing God's work, where their inner light is shining so bright that you can't help but be excited in their presence, and that my friend is you! You are an amazing person and I am so so grateful that I got the chance to spend some time with you. And I really hope that at some point I have that chance again. " (Indiana) "I realized I hadn't looked at your website in awhile and so just spent a nice chunk of time admiring your new stuff. I hadn't seen Vibrant before, and the thing I really like about it, since you asked ;), is that the contrast with the more hard core structure of your ribs makes me think of the butterfly wings as something strong and empowering instead of something delicate and frail." (Colorado) "Thank you for the beautiful prints which arrived safely and in perfect condition today. I shall treasure them and very much enjoy having them in my home as a source of inspiration and connection to the universe. ...When my friend first showed me Deep Breath, for me it embodied the very essence of pranayama. A while after this I became very interested in guardian angels, so while looking for Deep Breath also fell in love with Fierce Blessing. Many thanks once again..." (United Kingdom) "Thank you for all your healing artwork that has been an inspiration to me over the years." (California) "Absolutely beautiful work, Melanie. I feel you painted what is in my heart." "I am working on a paper that looks at the feminine faces of god in the bible as portrayed through art work. I am focusing on God as Mother, Wisdom, and Christ. I came across your She Collection, and was very inspired! I was wondering if you could offer some direction or suggestions to me in my research process. I am having a hard time finding art and artists who look at the feminine side of god, do you have any suggestions? Thank you very much for taking the time to read this, and also for being willing to create pieces that show god as female, it is very fufilling and encouraging." (Oregon) "Good morning Melanie; Had to write to tell you I had a dream about your painting [Vibrant] a few minutes ago. First, my initial response was "wow." For me it is intriguing and somewhat breathtaking. The tuning fork is particularly intriguing as a meditator, yoga practitioner and chiropractic patient. I'm so aware of the importance of the spine- keeping it aligned, using twists to keep the fluids flowing- once did a whole weekend retreat on the sacrum (which is just below the bottom of the tuning fork.) Also it brought to mind Barbara Helen Berger's book with her paintings of a little girl with wings- wings that were tied back by her fearful parents but freed by a wise old woman. I think it's out of print, but for years I have loved wondering about our wings and where they might take us if we could let them." (Indiana) "Sr. Teresa sent me the DVD of the Passion of the Earth. I spent the evening watching it (interrupted by the phone a couple of times) and I feel like I've been on retreat! It is so well done, and so very beautiful. Thank you so much, first for your inspiring artwork, and then for telling the story so well. I will treasure it, and look forward to sharing it with lots of people. May God continue to bless you as you share your gifts with us!" (Idaho) "I cannot help but write you ...........as I look at the piece Gathering Strength I am crying. You have been blessed in more ways than you know. God Bless and keep you always." "I just wanted to tell you that I think your art is beautiful and glorifying to God. Thank you." "You have long been an inspiration to me - ever since I first heard you speak the spirituality of your art and show the Redemption Series - at that time, I don't believe you had yet received the Courage. You have come though much and have a joy reborn." (Ohio) "Your site and your art are still beautiful and vibrate with color -- and the other indefinable of creativity -- and I SO enjoy them. I didn't know you'd had an accident but you have been included in my prayers from time to time. Bless you and thank you for your work. I hope to purchase more of it again soon." (Ohio) "I was recently at St. Gertrude's for a Lutheran Womens Retreat; I was so impacted by your art!!! It is truly breathtaking. I enjoy painting and creating, but have been busy fingerpainting and creating my children's lives for the past 11 years. My art has suffered, but the things I have to draw on are vastly increased. You are quite an inspiration. Your imagery and text are very uplifting and true to your own voice. There is a peace in the excitement of your work." (Idaho) "I was recently at a worship service at which some of your art was used in PowerPoint slides. It was just wonderful." (New York) "I hope that you are doing well. I am still very happy to see your art on your web site. It is a true source of well-being for me." (France) "I love your work! I teach voice and speech and was introduced to your print Breathe by a student of mine." (California) "Last night's art sharing and labyrinth walk was a wonderful, relaxing experience." (Oregon) "Your art work is stunning! I really love it. Keep up the good work." (South Africa) "I found your site through an image search and am overwhelmed by the beauty of both your work and your spirit. I was crying when I first saw the images in the women's spirituality section; reading on I found a connection in the David Whyte poetry, as House of Belonging is among my favorite contemporary volumes. You share yourself so generously and honestly and I thank you. I will be back to your site to purchase once I gather myself. I only wish you were closer geographically, but I am grateful for the internet age for these type of connections. Thank you for all of this and for yourself. I wish you continued blessings on your journey." (New York) "I am currently a psychology student, aspiring to work with autistic kids some day, but i absolutely love painting. I just wanted to let you know that you have, indeed, inspired me at the deepest level. Your artwork is amazing. My favorites from your collection are... freedom, still here, closer than we know, messenger, breathe, and between us. i would love to see you make a painting of your joy and gratitude angel sketch. and my absolute favorite art piece is your "deep breath." I noticed it must also too be one of your favorites because you had it as your first picture in your spiritual direction section. Just thought you would like to know how much I admire your work!" (Indiana) "This is a personal message from mySelf to yourself… I simply wanted to share with you my love and appreciation for your heartfelt and sincerely beautiful works of unique and spiritually uplifting art! I am inspired! I stumbled across them after doing an image search on Google and am in awe! Thank you for your generous and perfect contribution to the world…" "I can't even tell you how wonderful it was to run across your artwork and discover that there is another artist out there who enjoys painting about faith, prayer, spirituality, femininity, and nature. I am a senior in art school, and I was looking up images of cocoons on the internet and ran across yours, so I clicked the link and went to your website. I have been sitting here smiling from ear to ear as I carefully study each of your art pieces. I have been very interested in the same issues as you paint about, but am often discouraged, since my light-hearted, bright colored paintings are usually the only ones like them in class critques. I am often picked on for painting about such things, like they aren't important or concrete matters I should focus on in my artwork. I am extremely encouraged and inspired to find you and your artwork, and want to tell you how breathtakingly beautiful I find them. I want to THANK you for having the confidence to express exactly what you feel and believe in your artwork. For a young artist like myself, this is fuel and motivation to continue on in my journey. Thank you so much for sharing your artwork with the world :) " "Love your work! A friend showed me the Self Image piece on this website and I took some time to view for other images as well. Great combination of visually apealling work with spiritually deep questions and messages of hope and healing." "Thanks for sharing your art and vision on your web site, I appreciate both." "I wanted to thank you for creating images that have stayed with me for over six years now." "My soul is still savoring the beauty and power of your beautiful and profoundly urgent reflections [during a presentation on the Passion of the Earth project]. Thanks so much for your presence and inspirational gift to our Cosmology friends! It brought the Universe story 'home' to us all." "Hi, I just kinda chanced upon your site. Retaliation hit me the hardest. I love your style. Very 'vocal,' right in the face. Gave me some inspirations for my own work. Thanks... Really powerful." "My counselor showed me two of your prints she purchased at an artist retreat: Closer Than We Know and Our God so Near. Both were extremely expressive. I paint during sessions as I talk to my counselor. This has proven to be a very useful way to express myself. I enjoyed your gallery. I will check in from time to time to see new works. God bless you Melanie." "Your website is calm and peaceful, so nice being there! Thank you." (France) "Well Melanie, you will be pleased to know that the Good Boundary Angel is hanging on bathroom mirrors all over the world. When we announced her and said that we hoped she would be a gentle reminder to set and honor our own good and healthy boundaries, the victims/survivors loved her and are "For a couple of years I have shown your paintings to students in a teaching block called "metaphors for God". This term I did something very different. Students were sent to find your image Seed of God and to critique the painting from the perspective of Femininst theologies. I have not yet read the papers, they are due in tomorrow, however, the students greatly enjoyed the work and led a lively conversation about colors, shapes and images. Thank you for your paintings." "I first saw your work as an undergrad at Earlham College. It was the first time that I felt like someone had physically manifest what I knew to be my own spirituality. I am so glad that you have continued to make such beautiful, spiritual art!" "Our women's retreat was this past weekend. Women were touched by and heard God's voice through your artwork that we used in guided prayer times through powerpoint." "Just wanted to say that I was very impressed and taken with your work on the 'Everything Went Green' series. keep up the work." Regarding an Art Circle event: "I really enjoyed last nite A LOT! What a great old soul Melanie is! And so gentle, caring and thoughtful! Wow! Her visuals were so deeply connected to her person…coming out of who she is and what she understands about the universe! Very, very good! " "Wow. As always, I am so taken with your work. The Passion of the Earth series really speaks to me. What a wonderful gift you have created and given the Sisters of St. Gertrude and all of us." "I was so happy to see your finished project [Passion of the Earth]. Thanks so much for creating such a wonderful and grace-filled work! I know it will be a blessing to many." "Your art piece for Choice [#6 in the Passion of the Earth project series] came to me while I was meditating today. I saw the trinity as we had spoken of the first time I met you when I saw the piece last week. Now I saw it in a new way. Our society looks like a massive split of polarity and the solution is not to choose the left or right; it is to find the middle way and out of the fire of new intention and the healing of the illusion separation comes the third way which is powerfully portrayed in your piece. It was a beautiful moving image in my meditation as is your work. Thank you." "I have discovered your web-site! What a beautiful, Spirit blessed place it is ~ a place of succour and imagination and inspiration... just 'being' there has enriched my walk with God the last few days." "What powerful work you have done! I just looked at Everything Went Green. It brought tears to my eyes: I couldn't help but view your work in the context of the London bombing. 'This is the day...' Wow." "I was having a rotten day and feeling all out of sorts, so i searched in Google Images for "perfection" wondering if i could find a picture of the concept... and ended up looking at your perfection monster! "I had to write and say how truly joyous your work is. The color, the words, so wonderful. Thank you for your hard work and inspiration....you are an inspiration to me. Now I just have to make the hard decision of which print to order." "Melanie, I so enjoyed talking with you at the NW Catholic Women's Convocation. Your paintings have so much that I want to share with folks. So I'm passing around your website! Blessings on your journey as you finish your training as a spiritual director!" "The struggles in the contemplative life come through clearly in your work-- as does the ecstacy, hope, and overflowing love!!" "How wonder-full your new work! I'm forwarding the links you sent and know that people will be strengthened and delighted by your work-- and you!" "I received your print yesterday. It is beautiful. My friend [for whom the print was a gift] was very touched-- and teary. We sat for a long time looking at the picture, talking about what we saw and what the Lord was showing us. Thank you so much for your creative obedience. I look forward to meeting you some time. And ordering other prints!" "I stumbled upon your website (or should I say, it stumbled upon me) when I typed in 'collage ceramics' in my Google search. I've just spent the last hour viewing your images and reading your words of wisdom, and I wanted to know that you have truly touched my soul across the miles. ...I felt that I had to drop you a line to say thank you for your inspiration and for sharing your beautiful images through cyber space." "I saw your work in Presence [Journal of Spiritual Directors International] and was just visiting your website. I wanted to write to express how touched I am by your work. It is incredibly beautiful, and speaks to a deep part of me. I am an artist as well, and only within the past three or four years have I begun to understand that art is my calling, not just something I do. I intend to visit your website again when I can carve out some uninterrupted time to read about you and your work…and to just look deeply. Thank you for what you do, for who you are." "Thanks for sharing your site with me. I love it all, especially the Redemption Series. Such beautiful work in the clothing and in capturing emotion. Hope you do more of that!!!" "Hey, I come from Germany and by accident I found this great page! It is so very beautiful and I love the way you are trying to bring the love of our God near to others through art! I love art by myself, especially photos. I just wanted to say that I love your beautiful pictures of flowers! Many blessings." "Absolutely beautiful in form and essence! I'm so glad I stumbled across your Redemption-Hope piece, in a Google search no less. 'We may never know the impact of our kindness but no seed planted in faith comes back void.' " "Thank you for putting this beauty out in the world." "I was introduced to your artwork at the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho. My thanks to you for creating such wonderful things for the world to enjoy. The experience was fabulous and your artwork made it even more special. Thanks for sharing with the world." "Words alone can not express how touched I have been by your artwork. You paint what I feel in my soul. I just wanted to thank you for that and say how blessed I am to have found your work." "I don't know how, but looking for pictures about pain to illustrate some ideas, I found this site and your pictures. They're great. I don't know if you are a famous artist there, but they're great. I'm a musician and writer from Spain and I'm very amazed about your gallery. Thanks." "Your work is truly beautiful. Thank you for opening yourself to be channel through which the divine is able to speak in the world." "I can not only see, but feel & hear your art. I love its honesty, integrity & clarity. God is truly in your heart, head & hands. Have you/will you ever consider/ed publishing a book of your images for those of us who choose to travel light in life? Joy, peace & stillness to you on/in the journey." "What beautiful art work! You have touched me in more ways than you know." "I just love your work Melanie, it is rich with the feminine while at the same time conveys a strength that can be lost when attempting to image God in this manner. Your work stands on its own as the completeness of God, not a partial attribute that is assigned feminine. Again, thanks for your effort and the gift of your creations." "Good to see you back on the net, and to see your new work. The Listen to My Bones set is a lovely expression of processing unexpected revelation. Hope they were as therapeutic to do as they are to see; seeing these pieces raises for me the exhilaration and vibrant fear of hanging over the "edge", and the grace and the wonder of learning to walk along it." "Thank you. You point to the God who is Love and who is clearly Love to you. None of us can do anything more loving or powerful with our gifts." "I'm a pastor at a small United Methodist Church in Vermont. I came upon your website while searching for Ash Wednesday images and was just blown away by your watercolors. You evoke a profound sense of faith and wonder without a hint of treacle or over-wrought sentimentalism." "I'm a researcher at an institute that specializes in communicating scientific information on complementary and alternative medicine to both the public and medical professionals. My next talk is to people who suffer from chronic pain, and with your permission, I've just downloaded images of the Redemption Series to use in the talk. Thank you very much for allowing me to use them." "I checked out your site to see what's new and decided to check out your She Collection [in the Art Gallery]. I had seen many of the images before but hadn't really connected with them until now. I read your explanation of why you were exploring these images of God. I too have received LOUD AND CLEAR, a feminine sense of God. It started in small ways - not feeling quite connected to God, etc. I finally read something that addressed the male/female image of God as Holy One. That has helped me a lot. I had felt I had lost my frame of reference for God, so it was hard to pray or meditate to just a void. I am very visual, so until I had a picture of something/one in my head I felt cut loose, and spinning madly. My image is like one of your paintings, arms open...a Holy Mother. Sometimes I see a male and female next to each other, hands reaching out. Now that I have these images I can take a breath, and just sit with this new form of God and Spirit I have found. I am feeling more grounded. I know there are women there who have been given this image also. It feels to me as if God is revealing more and more to us during these times." "Thanks again for your collaboration. Your artwork played a huge role in the effectiveness of our production of The Vagina Monologues, and was extremely inspirational for me and the cast. Both performances of our prodution went well, the reviews were great, and we raised awareness and $11,000 for the Rape/Sexual Assault Counseling and Advocacy program of Family Resources, Inc." "Stumbled upon your website while searching for the poet Suheir Hammad. A happy accident indeed! Your illustrations, photos and words have touched me; I will make many others aware of your work. Thank you for creating and sharing." "All I can say is Wow, Wow, Wow! Your artwork has always been excellent, but as I've watched, it's begun to take on its own voice - it's audible. The thought you have put in, the 'journaling' on each piece is evident and it cries out for others to think on it too. I have never seen, or perhaps never looked, at art in this way before. Sure, there is art that speaks to me or art that causes feelings in me, but I've never seen art that wants to hold a conversation as yours seems to. You're on the right track. You are listening and looking, conversing and being vulnerable. Right now your artwork sings in an audible voice and has its own life. To this end I think you must continue in whatever vein is causing it! Thanks for all your hard work." "Your art has universal appeal. It speaks in piece after piece. It draws forth creativity in others. It incarnates a vision of what God increasingly wants to do among us. It is often the first time that folks have actually apprehended how art 'speaks' powerfully in ministry. Folks understand that concept because they are touched by your work--and 'get it.' " "The flower image that I liked best was the Marigold Zoom... the oranges and yellows and textures are INCREDIBLE! It is exciting to hear about the new eyes you've found to see the beauty of God's creation." "Friends recently gave me one of your prints - Gathering Strength - and I wanted to tell you how much I like it! They thought it might speak to a place I'm at in life right now, and it does. I'm trying to come to terms with not feeling deeply fed by my job, and longing for a vocation but having no idea what that might be. There are certain things I've felt trapped by, and it is hard to love and appreciate the growing pains and the waiting for clarity. Your image speaks to that, and even helps me think more clearly about it. Thanks so much!" "I think your work is really important. I think it's important because I have seen its effect on the people I care about-- that the effects are difficult and true and reek of God. I KNOW it's important because you are listening to God and you can't stop doing it. " "I just wanted to let you know about my reaction to one of your new pieces. I had this incredible, physical reaction to Breathe. The instant I saw it, I took this deep gasp of air - almost like a gasp of shock at the cold, or at something unexpectedly wonderful. It was the most amazing experience." "Oh, Melanie! Again the [digital flower] images are just awesome.... Words kind of fail in their presence. What ARE you going to do with these? My heart wants everyone in the whole world to get to see them! ( : They are simply inspiring..." "The print of Willing to Weep... moved me so deeply, it is something that I struggle with all the time. Am I willing to continue to be broken and experience the pain of it so I can weep before the Lord for others. I can see by your work that you also struggle with the gift that God has given you. ....May the Lord bless you and give healing and strength to those that view your work." "I just wanted to tell you that I have sincerely appreciated you sharing your art, wisdom, and joy with us. You have inspired me to do the same and pursue my gifting in artistic ability, especially through prayer. I also remember often to allow others lights to shine, even when I get irritated. Well, anyway, I just wanted to send some love your way to maybe give a little back of what you have so generously given me." "I got to your website through a friend who had ordered several of your prints. Just looking around your site at your beautiful art was a devotional experience for me -- thank you! I hope to be able to order some of your work for my office soon." "I want you to know that you have a wonderful presence -- each time I have met you, I have immediately sensed your joy, calm, fascination with life and Spirit, and deep interest in others. You affected ALL of us that way yesterday [at your Living Room Art Show]. ...Before we came over I was feeling sad and confused. I was able, after connecting both with you AND your art, to center again and get back to a much better space. Thank you for that." "You are in my thoughts often and as such in my prayers. You are a very talented artist and a well used instrument of God. Thank you for your openness to God's spirit!! Your gallery showing in the George Fox University gallery was beautiful!!" "I feel refreshed, renewed, released-- thank thee." "I really enjoy the way you have made your art a form of worship." "I love your work! I can't explain how much I connect to it and its message and how much it makes me want to do art that reflects God... Thank you!" "As usual, your work inspires me to look deeper within--and to explore new places with God." "I just want to thank you for introducing me to journaling. Spiritual journaling has done wonders for me. I have a lot of things happening in my life right now and instead of turning to the bad things that can make you feel better, I have learned to pray through my Journal. I though that you would want to know that you have significantly changed my life (positively of course). Please keep up your wonderful and powerful ministry!" "Enjoyed browsing once again through your work, thanking God for the gifts He has given you, and for the way you are using those gifts for His honor and glory." "I wanted to let you know that you continue to inspire and motivate me. I have begun quilting and rediscovered watercolor, and recently was commissioned to do a piece of art for a fellow co-worker. This led to several family members requesting pieces, and finally ended in a commitment with my mother to finally commence a mother-daughter children's book project that we have been tossing around for years. So, I share this with you simply because you helped open this door which has proven so wondrous and nourishing to my soul." "Your artwork is simply beautiful and intelligent. God speaks to me through it, regardless of the piece I'm looking at." "I continue to be moved by your images-- they are both comforting and assaulting." "I am mesmerized by the beauty and truth of your paintings -- the compassion etched in the lines of God's face in Closer than We Know is resonating within me." "The feeling the paintings evoke is joyful, yet they portray a personal struggle..." "The paintings are beautiful. I'm glad to know that Christianity can encompass such images-- the absence of such was one of the reasons I stayed away for so many years." "Your images evoke. And thank you, because sometimes I forget. John 15:9." "What I love most about your works here is the presence of a smiling, loving God..." "Wish I could read what you have written in your watercolors a little better. I like your writing just as much as your art work." "Your work represents a wonderful expression of the dialogue that you are having with the Holy One. It fills me with joy and encourages me to be attentive to the ways that God is moving in my life. ...Keep listening, practicing, and experimenting-- I look forward to seeing more of what you and God do together." "Your works are amazing and beautiful. They are so warm and full of life and assurance of a loving, nurturing presence of God. How wonderful to see this in art." "Really enjoyed your website. The black background makes the art jump on my monitor. I've added you to my 'favorite places' so I can visit you often. Thanks!" "Seeing your work makes me want to quit my job and begin working on my own art!" "The art touches the inner struggles-- good and bad; you always push and prod and you continue to do so through these works. Thank you." "I recently had a talk with Maya Angelou, and she told me that all of her writings, songs, lectures, and talks come from God. It seems, from looking at and being with your works, that you might say the same thing. It shows." "You inspire me to take time to sift out that which is within." "Some of them make me cry." "It takes a good deal of courage and confidence to show things so personally representative. I enjoyed the whole of it-- and was moved by several-- usually the simpler pieces." "So much of your art -- and the messages in it -- speak to my own questions and doubts and to my faith and trust in God." "I appreciate the web site images, particularly Messenger, Mama Bear, and Prayers ... They convey much more about the simultaneous power and fragility found in our faith than words ever could."
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