Melissa Tobia’s passion for art and drawing began at an early age when she could barely hold a pencil. Her childhood artwork featured charming drawings of flowers, bunnies, and cabbage patch faces. As a teenager, her artistic skills expanded to include a diverse range of subjects such as hands, portraits, animals, and landscapes. To practice her craft, she would paint on saved gift boxes, discovering that they provided an unexpectedly ideal surface for her artwork. Combining watercolor with pen-and-ink became a particular fascination, and she experimented with various techniques like stippling and crosshatching.

Art became Melissa’s therapeutic escape, occupying most of her spare time as she delved into learning new techniques and honing her drawing and painting skills. Encouraged and mentored by her art teachers, she felt a sense of specialness and support, particularly from one who played a crucial role in preparing her for college.

Melissa obtained her A.A.S. degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology and her B.F.A. in Computer Art from the School of Visual Arts. For 27 years, she worked as a graphic designer before deciding to pursue her art alongside her professional career.

Currently, Melissa’s artistic focus lies in capturing the essence of flowers, portraits, and landscapes. She strives to convey an intimate or macro perspective of her beloved flowers, skillfully incorporating texture and employing vivid colors. Exploring unique angles and diverse compositions adds an intriguing dimension to her work. She prefers working with pastels, watercolor, colored pencil, and occasionally oil or acrylic paints. When it comes to portraits, she gravitates towards capturing unposed moments that evoke a story and create a connection between the viewer and the subject. Growing up, Melissa drew inspiration from impressionist and surrealist art movements, with artists like Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, Degas, and Magritte shaping her creative influences.