Melissa Payne Baker’s enthusiastic love for life infuses richness and elegance into each of her canvases. She is bestknown for her abstract paintings that drip with her creative color palettes, texture and form. Melissa uses paletteknives to layer on texture, brushes to soften with different mediums including acrylic and oil. Melissa creates placesfor the eye to roam over the canvas with her unique perspective and artistic style, which are still what attractsclients, from collectors to designers across the country. With a passion for art and interior design, Melissa pours hertalents into each abstract painting that she creates. From traditional interiors to contemporary, her abstract artworkcreates the perfect layer to any decor.This Southern artist found her passion for art early in life, learning from generations of artisans while surrounded bynature in Mississippi. From a Marketing degree from University of Mississippi to a career in interior design, Melissanow spends her days in her Atlanta studio with her cat Gesso. If not painting, she is chasing her young son, Payne,who keeps her creativity in full bloom.Melissa’s work has been represented by Huff Harrington Fine Art in Atlanta, Georgia, Grand Bohemian Gallery inBirmingham, Alabama, Providence Interiors in Nashville, Tennessee, Grace Gallery in Dallas, Texas, Market PlaceInteriors in Tampa, Florida, First Fruit Interiors in Collierville, Tennessee and many other fine art galleries and interiorfirms around the Southeast.Her work has been published in Traditional Homes, House Beautiful, Southern Home, Southern Lady, CottageJournal, Good Grit, The Atlantan, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, VIE, At Home Midsouth to Nashville Arts. Her work hasbeen featured in designer show houses across the Southeast including the The Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles ShowHouse, the Southeastern Designer Show House and Serenbe Designer Home.She has provided her art to fundraising events including Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation raising $100,000 intheir live auctions, Children’s HeathCare of Atlanta, the American Heart Association, The Comprehensive CancerCenter in Birmingham at ArtBlink and more.Melissa has collaborated with companies and other artists like Stacy Milburn Studio Fine Art Mirrors, Chloe KristynClothing, Jackson Rose Candle Company, Zagslife, MB Greene Bags and Suthingirl Collection.Art For Every Palette was created by Melissa when she discovered the need for some smaller artsy pieces that are agreat fit for every palette and budget. It was quickly Named by StyleBlueprint, "10 Southern Brands You ShouldKnow About". Her most popular product, hand painted glassware, has been sold at Saks Fifth Avenue Atlanta,Neiman Marcus Atlanta Holiday Pop-Up, Trinity Spotlight on Art and are available in fine boutiques around theSoutheast including custom color palette’s at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Galleries and Cindy Ensor Designs inAtlanta.Melissa’s art career quickly became a full time business in 2006 but she never loses focus on what is reallyimportant, creating art that touches the heart of the viewer. You could say that she has mastered her art but shewould say that it is just the beginning, the best is yet to come. “Through my art, I love to celebrate the beauty around us, layer by layer, unfolding life through color and texture ontomy canvas. I have always been a creative person, passionate about everything from art to interior design. Differentmediums, including acrylic and oil, allow me to express my vision in my abstract work. My art is an expression of myexperiences, emotions, inspirations and stories I choose to tell. A big part of my art is layering on texture, color andcomposition with palette knives and brushes. Strongly influenced by interior design, my color palettes and uniquestyle creates movement on the canvas yet calming emotions within the viewer. I strive to convey the sense ofcalmness through the complexities of life. These emotions, I paint from my heart and I hope my collectors feel eachtime they view my work.”