Cris Melo is a self-taught, full time artist. Originally from Brazil, the artist has been in the US for over 15 yrs. "I'm into many things when it comes to arts and hand made things, so I always have a variety of goodies to offer. I'm restless, and I just can't stand doing only one thing for too long. The influences of my great grandmother’s talent at crochet making, my grandfather’s fondness for storytelling, my grandmother’s magic in the kitchen, and my multi-talented mother, who created dresses and elaborate birthday cakes for me as a kid, and is a painter herself." "The female image is a frequent theme for me. My method is simply to allow my moods to direct my creativity, wherever it wants to go. Through the use of bright, upbeat colors, I hope to transport the viewer above the daily grind and into a world of freedom within. I’m merely an instrument through which the artistic process evolves. They have all helped to direct and sharpen my creativity and imagination. As a child, being around the women in my family as they sewed and created, I didn’t know it, but I was soaking up their skills." Cris Melo currently resides in Maryland with her husband. GIRL WITH STRAW HAT $6.00