Richard Melendy | art.works.northwest

I have been a visual artist (painter and illustrator) for over 33 years. I was born and raised in La Canada, Southern California. My interest in drawing and painting began at the age of 5, when my parents enrolled me in summer arts and crafts classes at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California. After seeing Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, in 1977, I enjoyed drawing the movie frames from memory, as a child, which spurred my early drawing interests, too. My grandfather loved to sketch portraits of people and thus encouraged me to become an artist. I have had an incredible imagination as early as childhood.

At La Canada High School, I took studio art classes throughout my high school career as my sole elective classes. I had an outstanding art teacher in high school. At Pasadena City College, I received my Associate of Arts Degree with an Art History/ Studio Art emphasis. The art professors at PCC were outstanding and truly helped me develop
my talents. It was at PCC, too, that I became interested in Surrealism, after having studied the work of De Chirico, Magritte, and Dali. At the University of Southern California, I received my B.A. in Art History/Fine Arts in 1992. In 2004, I moved to the Tri-Cities.

My primary art focus has been Surrealism. In addition, I have enjoyed painting landscapes in places, where I have traveled. Currently, I have been writing and illustrating stories with unexpected endings, using mixed media.

During summer, I teach drawing, painting, and illustration to children in Kennewick and Hermiston.

Phone: (509)539-0177

Email: pieeyemime@aol.com