| Krystii Melaine is passionate about wildlife and about art. "I am fascinated by all living things, seeing in them beauty, character and the powerful spirit of life. Inspiration for my paintings may come from a momentary gesture, sunlit colours and subtle reflected light, or the atmosphere of a wild place. To capture the essence of a wild creature, to express a moment in its life, and to share the pure joy of the natural world with others - this is what I live for!"
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| Krystii Melaine |
Born in the Australian town of Bairnsdale, Victoria, Krystii Melaine spent much of her childhood observing the wild birds and animals in the forests surrounding her home. Announcing at the age of four that she was going to be an artist, Krystii won her first art competition at seven. By the age of fourteen, she was selling paintings and accepting commissions.
Following studies in painting, drawing, photography and graphic design, Krystii set up her own fashion design company, and in the following years she developed it into one of the largest and most successful bridal-wear companies in Australia. A large staff manufactured her seasonal collections which were sold to outlets around Australia and New Zealand, while exclusive designs were sold through her own retail store in Adelaide. Krystii's elegant, sculptural gowns were also shown in Paris and London.
A burning desire to return to her life-long passion for painting led Krystii to five years of study in traditional tonal realism with the renowned Melbourne artist Graham Moore. Drawing on Moore's 80-plus years of artistic experience provided her with a strong background in portraiture, still life and landscape painting.
Around the same time Krystii moved with her husband from the city to a mountain forest filled with wildlife, which revived her fascination of nature and provided the inspiration she was searching for.
The natural world became the focus of her paintings, and Krystii is now recognized as one of Australia's premier fine artists. Her work is also rapidly gaining recognition in the USA and around the world.
Traveling the world to experience wildlife in its natural habitat, Krystii combines field observations with hands-on research to gain understanding of her subjects. Field notes, sketches, photographs, and vivid memories capture a particular gesture or situation that will become the foundation for a new painting.
Through many sketches and studies, her initial inspiration develops into a composition that expresses the visual impact of the moment and her thoughts about the subject. In a process that takes many weeks, Krystii then applies several layers of oil paint over her final drawing on canvas, absorbed by her subject and reveling in the paint itself.
"I love the feel of oil paint, whether mixing intense colors or subtle tones, pushing around thick impasto or applying the thinnest of washes, laying down loose brush strokes or fine details," said Krystii.
Krystii travels to North America twice yearly to research her two favorite painting subjects -- wildlife and cowboys. Exhibiting her oil paintings in galleries, museums and group exhibitions. Her works range from detailed depictions of wildlife in its natural habitat to more impressionistic works.
Following studies in painting, drawing, photography and graphic design, Krystii set up her own fashion design company, and in the following years she developed it into one of the largest and most successful bridal-wear companies in Australia. A large staff manufactured her seasonal collections which were sold to outlets around Australia and New Zealand, while exclusive designs were sold through her own retail store in Adelaide. Krystii's elegant, sculptural gowns were also shown in Paris and London.
A burning desire to return to her life-long passion for painting led Krystii to five years of study in traditional tonal realism with the renowned Melbourne artist Graham Moore. Drawing on Moore's 80-plus years of artistic experience provided her with a strong background in portraiture, still life and landscape painting.
Around the same time Krystii moved with her husband from the city to a mountain forest filled with wildlife, which revived her fascination of nature and provided the inspiration she was searching for.
The natural world became the focus of her paintings, and Krystii is now recognized as one of Australia's premier fine artists. Her work is also rapidly gaining recognition in the USA and around the world.
Traveling the world to experience wildlife in its natural habitat, Krystii combines field observations with hands-on research to gain understanding of her subjects. Field notes, sketches, photographs, and vivid memories capture a particular gesture or situation that will become the foundation for a new painting.
Through many sketches and studies, her initial inspiration develops into a composition that expresses the visual impact of the moment and her thoughts about the subject. In a process that takes many weeks, Krystii then applies several layers of oil paint over her final drawing on canvas, absorbed by her subject and reveling in the paint itself.
"I love the feel of oil paint, whether mixing intense colors or subtle tones, pushing around thick impasto or applying the thinnest of washes, laying down loose brush strokes or fine details," said Krystii.
Krystii travels to North America twice yearly to research her two favorite painting subjects -- wildlife and cowboys. Exhibiting her oil paintings in galleries, museums and group exhibitions. Her works range from detailed depictions of wildlife in its natural habitat to more impressionistic works.