Abstract landscape painter, Celina Melo is thrilled to announce her first solo exhibition, Water’s Edge. The collection will be on display through to January 5, 2019 with an opening reception on Sunday November 11th from 12 to 3 pm at Michael’s Hair Design, 511 Maple Grove Drive in Oakville.

This exhibition caps off a successful debut year for the artist, who has participated in seven juried exhibitions across the GTA and Midland, Ontario since May. Of note is the prestigious Colour and Form Society’s Open Juried Exhibition on display at the Etobicoke Civic Centre this November. Melo has received enthusiastic and emotional responses to her work and is always pleased to hear patrons describe exactly what she intended - that the pieces feel alive and evoke the familiar sensation of being present, in the moment, at the water’s edge.

Melo’s debut in the art scene this year was born out of a series of personal events, and the solace and strength she found among the rugged landscape of Georgian Bay. While on maternity leave, Melo’s life took a sharp turn. “Unexpectedly, I found myself having to make life-altering decisions about my health. On the shores of Georgian Bay, I found my happy place.” A close friend aptly quoted Elizabeth Edwards, “She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.” Melo’s personal journey inspired her to focus on her art, much to the delight of her peers, students and family.

An accomplished photographer, painter and teacher, Melo’s talents in these disciplines merge in this unique collection. The inherent movement in water is captured through Melo’s process of painting, pouring and pushing her acrylic paints to create the sensation of movement and colour. Textural depth and the incorporation of mixed media, such as sand and cheesecloth, is important in her pieces. “I am drawn to the reflective and fluid qualities of water and its ability to change colour. Moving across the painting, the sheen of the pouring medium mimics the sparkle and dynamism of water, bringing a sense of life and transformation to the canvas.” The result is an organic and fluid interpretation of the landscape, which meanders between abstraction and realism.

About Celina Melo: Melo is a talented painter, photographer, and well-respected teacher of Visual Arts, Photography and Media Arts with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. She is a member of Visual Arts Mississauga, Mississauga Arts Council and Ontario College of Teachers. Melo lives in Mississauga with her husband, two daughters and her Golden Labrador Retriever.

For more information, please contact Celina at 416-833-2038 or by email at celinamelofineart@gmail.com. Facebook/Instagram: @celinamelofineart