Chasing the Pink Glow In December 2013, my dad, Dick Nelson, died very suddenly, and I was grief-stricken. As the primary caregiver of my two children, my life was also drastically changed when my youngest child enrolled in school all day. I became adrift & depressed. Before my sadness, the things that delighted me were …
This op-ed originally appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune. It’s been said that democracy is not a spectator sport. Sometimes I wish people treated it like it was, though. We’ve all known or even lived with that sports super fan who has a game day jersey or special practice to “influence” the outcome of a …
For 100 (and 3 days I was unable to paint because I was traveling or ill) days I have started the morning wondering what I will paint that day. My family has heard me ask, at least 80 times, “What am I going to paint today?” Almost every time, my daughters have answered “Your family!” …
A photo posted by Melissa N-S (@melissa.n_s) on Dec 4, 2015 at 5:50pm PST This evening I headed to E3 Modern a gallery where they have hung 97 of paintings, and the other 3 will be added later this week. We were there until 9:30, and then I came home and finished my 99th painting. …
On the worst of days, all I have to do is head over to YouTube and watch some Sonny & Cher Show clips, or Cher’s solo variety show. Nothing makes me happier than Cher singing and acting in a variety show format. If I need a quick fix, one look at Cher’s Twitter account will …
I love the accordion. I’m sure that when angels fly, the flapping of their wings sound just like the bellows of this here instrument. I was hesitant to paint one, as I wasn’t sure I could do it justice. But today a friend on Instagram posted a photo of a Jo Ann Castle album & …
I don’t even know how to express the love I have for Tom Waits. I know he is one of those artists that inspires a cult like devotion, and there is a good reason for that. It’s because he is amazing. I admire the way that he is always stretching and trying new things. I …
I love record albums. Back before the Internet was around, the way I found out about music was heading to a local thrift shop and picking up a stack of albums for .50¢ each. I would just try things out, and if I hated it, back to the thrift shop it would go. When I …
True Stories is a film about a bunch of people in Virgil Texas. It was made by David Byrne of the band The Talking Heads in 1986. The Talking Heads wrote the songs for the movie, and they are so good! I love love love this movie. I remember renting it as a kid & …
Edith head was an incredibly busy costume designer from 1948 until 1981. She designed so many iconic and amazing costumes. Including two of the films I have included in this project, “What A Way To Go” & “A New Kind Of Love”. She also did the costumes for Sunset Boulevard & Roman Holiday. The list …
