Melissa's Art House

Last night on March 4, 2008, my art won the LeMoyne Show's Highest Award, a $500 scholarship! The award was for a senior portfolio, and can be applied to my college of choice. The Lemoyne Show, produced and directed by the Art Institutes, had received a record number of senior portfolios- 47 to be exact. The number of merit scholarships was actually increased to accomodate the number of excellent portfolios the show had received- but only 4 of the awards came with a scholarship! I was enthusiastic and honored to learn (at the last minute, I might add) that I had been given the highest award!

I'm also extremely pleased that we had a good number of other students from SAIL win awards for their beautiful work (Mike, Taylor and Katie to name a few!). SAIL did extremely well last night and I'm sure that it will reflect positively on the school.

Welcome to my inner mind.

My soul, passions and dreams are engrained within these pages-
It is a place that speaks not through words but through the beauty, emotion and the subtle contemplations of an artist.
It is a place with identity.

If you came here expecting something trite and uninspired, hastily produced or weighted with formalities, then you've expected wrong.
This site is the real me- A creative burst of my thought process that wasn't shortened, abridged, or simplified for the sake of an easy read- or a simple mind.

When you come here, you must be aware- conscious, perceptive and with an open mind. You must be willing to listen to what I have written, to see what I have envisioned and grasp the meaning of what I am attempting to convey.
You don't have to agree with me- that is not my intention at all- I simply ask that you engage yourself.
Anything less and you will find yourself disappointed.

There is art that implores and provokes,
guided by the soft flicks of a brush or the stroke of a pencil.
There is poetry which echoes with the resilience of the human spirit and its defiance in the midst of hardship.
There are writings which seek to question the status quo,
not only presenting a thought but justifying it with ideas and careful contemplation.
There is photography that explores the soul of a place and the humanity common to us all.

I hope that in visiting this site you will gain as much as I have in creating it. It embraces the human yearning to create, empower, and explore the diversities of life's experiences, and strives to conceptualize the perceptions of beauty, in all its form and taste. It was a mixture of fate, devilishly hard work and pure enjoyment for my craft that have lent to the creation of this site- a beautiful, interactive and constantly changing place- slowly opening to its final form, like a rose.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact me at master_of_metacognition@yahoo.com. You can also use the email link on the navigation menu to the left.

The Purpose of Prose: The rationalization behind creativity

My site, though it explores the passions of the creative quest, also serves two more practical purposes. One, it contains an anthology of my work and highlights areas of my life that are most memorable. That creative flair, that exuberant spark of divinity is an unquestionable part of myself. This place chronicles its journey. For years to come it will continue to be contain my ideas and opinions on this very personal experience called life. I will enjoy looking back on my past dreams, choices and the cultivation of my intellectual pursuits. It is the ultimate interactive diary of my experiences and persona- presented in a way that is accessible to others, yet can still be utilized to explore my inner self.
Secondly, this site serves to introduce myself to prospective colleges. It explores my persona, life, creativity, talent, and character. It can reach beyond the confines of a application by offering new insight into my qualities as an exceptional individual. I include only the most relevant facts when necessary and show examples of my best work.

Site Overview:

Welcome to my humble abode. I love to show my art and writing to the world around me- I hope that you will find some pieces to your liking and leave this place with a better understanding of creativity- with all its muses. If you are a prospective college, then I would like to welcome you and hope that you find your visit pleasant. This site is a complilation of my dreams and hopes, accomplishments and setbacks, talents and personality. Scroll down below to see the different areas and descriptions of each.

Vision

This area explores my personal goals, dreams and ambition in relation to art, writing and intellect. It specifically details and outlines my greatest achievements to date, while at the same time presenting my reflections on my continuing pursuit. It states my dreams, wishes and current goals as an artist and writer.

My Life

This area is a much more rounded look on myself as an individual. As well as containing a quick biography, it outlines my collective desires as an individual- not just related to art and writing. It looks into my character traits, personality and literally, the 'essense' of who I am today.

Academics

This area exists solely to present my academic background to prospective colleges. It details my academic courses throughout my high school years and also serves to explain fluctuations, ebbs and improvement through various areas. It also highlights and explores the coursework through which I have excelled, namely art and writing.

Portfolio

This area is (can you guess?) my personal art portfolio. It is an interactive html-based gallery containing my best work- some up to 3 years old, but most being relatively recent. There are drawings from life, paintings in oils, the prismacolor pictures and the movie I designed for the SAIL High School website using macromedia flash (go see the moviehere)

Poetry/Writing

This area concerns another element of my creative psyche- writing. I've included some of my best literary compilations- short stories, poetry, and a selection of editorials. My writings often concern controversial subjects and social issues that other students would typically shy away from (think gay rights, abortion and the Iraq war)- I am not, however afraid to delve into these topics of argument and state an important case- my opinion is sharp, strong and well-informed. I attempt to reconcile the gap between truth and politics.

Photography

This is a relatively new area and won't be up for some time. As an amatuer student of photography, I try to do the best I can with what little skill I have. Included will be examples of my current work, in digital and traditional formats.

Email

Email me with any comments, questions or concerns you may have about the site or myself.