Melody grew up in Summit Township, just south of Erie, PA, and moved to Pittsburgh in 1973 to study commercial and fine art at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. As her two sons grew, so did her artistic versatility, venturing into every corner of the commercial art world. Posters, logos, magazine layouts and illustrations for newspapers and magazines filled her time. A small advertising agency hired her to create a look for a couture boutique, Temptations, and years of weekly fashion sketches followed. After their closing, another boutique, Bailey and Bailey, hired her for their advertising and more fashion illustrations, pen and ink and watercolor, were done for the next 15 years. Melody is a prominent portrait artist for commissioned works, and has many paintings and drawings in homes across the surrounding area. Caricatures for wedding and baby shower invitations, as well as milestone birthday celebrations, have recently gained popularity among her clients. She lives in her home of 45 years in Sewickley with her 4 year old cat, Frida. Fortunately, her two sons and their children live near by and her three granddaughters are a constant source of inspiration and enjoyment. She is a member of the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators.