Artistry Unveiled: Introducing Our First Muse
Welcome to Muse, our latest series celebrating women's creativity and passion through intimate portraits of their artistic journey and the spaces where imagination flourishes. Delve into the heart of creative process, storytelling, and visual narratives that shape the essence of their work.
Each feature is an editorial-inspired exploration, blending insightful interviews with stunning visuals by photographer Kate Watkinson, offering a glimpse into the inspirations and lives behind the art. From the personal significance imbued in every piece to the overarching meaning of their brands, Muse aims to illuminate the diverse ways these creators weave their experiences, dreams, and challenges into a compelling narrative. Join us as we unveil the stories of women who transform their vision into reality, inspiring us to find our own muse within.
In our first edition of this monthly series, we step into the vibrant yet tranquil universe of Melanie Cheung, a Hamilton-based abstract painter whose artistry blurs the lines between emotion and expression through its colorful yet subdued palette.
Transitioning from a decade-long career in fashion design to embracing the canvas's boundless possibilities, Melanie's journey is a testament to the transformative power of following one's passion and the intricate dance of creativity and personal evolution.
Her work, characterized by an 'undone' quality and a penchant for muted colors and layers, serves as a window to her soul, offering viewers a chance to find calm and connection in the whirl of the everyday. As Melanie stitches together panels of fabric and paint, she weaves her story—one of exploration, intuition, and the continual quest for a flow that feels like home.
Join us as we delve into the mind and the palette of Melanie Cheung, our muse for this first edition of the Muse series, where art and life dance in the light of introspection and vibrant creativity.
To start us off, can you tell us a little more about you and the creative work you do?
I'm a painter and I paint in an abstract style that is colourful, yet subtle. I live in Hamilton and I've been painting and drawing in various styles for most of my life. I started painting in a more serious way and selling works in 2021. I've been drawn to creative work and making things since I was very young, as it is the only type of work that allows me to truly focus and get into a state of “flow.” My background is in fashion design. I went to University for fashion design and worked as a womenswear designer for about twelve years before finding my way into an art career.
What would be considered a signature of your work, or something that’s woven through everything you do?
My style is ever evolving, but I always want an “undone” quality to my work, I don't think I'll ever create works that are too precise or tidy. I'm drawn to colour, but I like to keep my colours muted. Even when I use pops of bright colours, it's always just a hint, or layered in a very translucent way, so the colours still always have a softness to them.
What feelings do you hope your work evokes?
My work is a direct expression of my inner emotions and how I'm processing the world around me. I've sometimes struggled with expressing myself through words, and have found art to be the best way I can express myself. I've been told my work is calming, which I love to hear. The process of painting has always been a means to feeling calm, so the idea that my work could give that feeling to the viewer is a pretty wonderful thing. Most of all I hope my work evokes some sort of emotion and is not just seen as purely decorative.
Over the years and as you develop new work and collections, do you find your style evolving? How does it stay the same?
I have a bit of a problem with being interested in EVERYTHING. I have to work hard to make sure I'm spending enough time exploring an idea, instead of jumping into something new. I've been working a lot with transparent layers of paint, which I still want to continue to do, but I'm trying out different colour palettes and new mediums to refine my technique. Lately, I'm diving deeper into stain painting, and experimenting more with colour bleeds. I've also started sewing together panels of different fabrics, as well as cutting up and sewing back together discarded paintings. As my practice evolves, my overall goal is for my style to be more free. I usually sketch everything digitally before putting down any paint, however I find sometimes that those paintings end up looking too contrived. I would love to get to a place where I feel confident enough to paint intuitively.
Can you identify a first memory that’s linked to what you do, or a key moment during your creative journey that led to where you are today?
When I was a kid, I used to paint a lot with my grandfather, who was an extremely talented artist. He would set me up with professional tools and paints and treat me as his peer. I already knew I liked painting and drawing, but that sort of encouragement gave me a sense of confidence and the sense that creating art was something special and not just a silly hobby. When I started to feel unhappy in my previous career. I would often think about that time. I asked myself what I would want to do if money was no issue and I always came back to the same answer, that all I wanted to do was paint.
How does your environment and creative workspace affect your work, or vice versa?
My environment affects my work a great deal. Ideally, I would love to paint at a very large scale, however up until I moved into my studio space, I was painting in a small room. I mostly paint on the floor, so limited floor space meant I could only paint up to a certain size. Now that I have my studio, it is allowing me the breathing room and literal floor space to work at a larger scale and on multiple pieces at once. Having natural light is also a game changer for me. I'm very affected by the seasons and daylight in general, so getting to paint by large windows with the sun streaming in gives me so much more energy.
If you could picture the ideal space for your finished work to live, what would that look like?
I'm really happy to have my paintings live in people's homes. Not all artists want to make art to hang above someone's sofa, but for me getting to have my paintings in someone's home is such an honor. Considering we spend so much time at home, and that our homes have become an extension of ourselves, having my art in such a personal space, to be admired every day is so special. I love interior design, so when the design of a space aligns with my own taste, that is also very exciting. I love that my paintings get to coexist along with all of the special treasures a person or family has collected.
How intertwined is your personal style with the style of the work you do you produce?
I would say that it is pretty intertwined. In terms of clothing and home decor, I'm drawn to more minimalist, timeless, understated design. While I love natural, muted colours, I'm also very nostalgic for the fun and whimsy of my childhood in the early 90s. I think these two contrasting sensibilities come through in my personal style and my work. I love an unexpected pop of neon every once in a while. I'm also what I like to call “a chaotic perfectionist.” I need things to be of a certain quality, but I can be messy in my approach, which I think also comes through in my work.
How does the role of storytelling play into your work?
It plays an important role but in a non-linear, not always coherent way. I keep a running list of thoughts on my phone. Basically whenever a phrase, an idea or a word pops into my head, I write it down there. At the time, these phrases don't seem cohesive, but every few weeks, I will review them and see if any of them pop out in particular and if there is any noticeable theme between them. This then becomes the theme for the series and the phrases and words become my painting titles. I find this a good exercise to tap into my subconscious, and a way of processing my thoughts. It is similar to journaling in some ways, but the story I'm telling is more abstract and emotion based.
What makes your creative process unique? What’s your favourite part of it? The most difficult?
My process draws from my career as a designer. I plan things out with moodboards, colour palettes, initial sketches and tests in a similar way that I used to build fashion collections. I take a lot of time to pre-mix my paint colours, as I am very particular about achieving specific hues. I stretch all of my own canvases, which I actually find very satisfying. The most difficult part is probably my own self-criticism. I often feel like the work that I'm creating is not where I want it to be. I have a hard time liking the work that I create, and I find that it is not until I have some distance from my work that I can actually appreciate it. While painting is fun and relaxing, it can also be very frustrating at times!
What role does inspiration play in your creative process? Where do you find inspiration?
Inspiration is such a huge part of my process. As mentioned, a lot of it is found through emotions that I am processing and trying to visualize. I walk around alot with my head in the clouds, and find a lot of inspiration in interesting colour combinations and textures found in my surroundings and in nature. I'm drawn to ethereal imagery and have a huge folder of those sorts of images saved on pinterest. I love going to art shows, especially to see work that is very different from my own style. Seeing art in person helps me shift my perspective and I often get a lot of inspiration in terms of technique and materials. I'm also very inspired by music and I make a corresponding playlist to every series I paint.
When do you feel most creative? And on the flip side, what do you do when you’re in a creative rut?
I feel most creative when I allow myself to just play and not worry about what the outcome of the piece will be. When I'm in a creative rut, I try to reconnect to things that I find inspiring, I try to listen more intentionally to music, get outside and appreciate nature and try to disconnect from my phone and devices (which is hard for me to do!).
At Slow Dance, we love the concept of romanticizing the everyday. Do you have a way that you do this?
I'm trying to do this more. I'm not always great at it, as I can get caught up in the overwhelm and stress of life. I'm trying to be more mindful in my daily life. Slowing down and being more intentional with my time helps. I'm also trying to get into a practice of gratitude. The fact that I get to spend so much of my time being creative, painting and doing what I love is such an incredible privilege and I try and take time to remember that every day.
QUICK FIRE
A favourite book, movie, album, piece of art etc that you love?
Book – Just Kids by Patti Smith
Music – It’s a wide range, but some favourites to paint are: Jean Michel Blais, Patrick Watson, Sharon Van Etten, Sufjan Stevens, Beirut, anything that helps me feel all the feelings!
Dream creative collaboration?
It would be really cool to do a fashion collab with a designer that I admire like Rachel Comey for example. Maybe my paintings could translate to a print on a sheer fabric or something like that. I'll just put that out there into the world!
A new medium you’d love to explore?
Too many, but I'd like to incorporate more mixed media into my work. I'm thinking about how to collage interesting paper textures into my paintings, I also really want to explore oil paints, but I find them intimidating. I want to work with natural pigments as well. I like the idea of blending natural elements with synthetic materials, so lots of ideas to explore in the future!
Sensory profile for your brand:
Sight — Pink/purple/orange sunset seen through a window with warm light pouring in
Scent — Warm amber
Sound — Song: Nostos by Jean Michel Blais
Taste — Cool and refreshing. A cucumber spritz? Is that a thing?
Feel — Introspective / sentimental
As we close this edition of our newsletter, we hope Melanie Cheung's journey and the inaugural feature of our Muse series has sparked a sense of inspiration within you. Through these stories, we aim to celebrate the diverse tapestry of creativity and the enduring spirit of women artists, designers and creators. May these intimate glimpses into their worlds remind you of the beauty in the process, the power of storytelling, and the endless well of inspiration surrounding us.
Until next time, may the muse guide your creative path.
Explore Melanie's work on her website and instagram.
All photos by Kate Watkinson for Slow Dance Studio.