I’m Melissa—gardener, seed saver, artist, cancer survivor, dog mom, nonprofit founder, and SeedEO. This space is both my artist sketchbook and a place where I share my cancer story.

I created this page years ago to connect with and support other cancer survivors, something that still means a lot to me. Cancer visited my body in 2013. I live in its distant shadow and hope we never meet again, but the experience has deeply shaped who I am today. You can read more about that journey here.

At heart, I’m an ecologist. I love growing plants, saving seeds, making compost, wandering wild places and roadsides, and pausing in awe of the wild wonders all around. This way of seeing the world flows directly into my art.

I create paintings, drawings, and lino cuts inspired by the natural world. I forage and grow many of the colors I use, transforming leaves, petals, berries, and soil into living pigments for my watercolor work. Through detailed lines and these natural materials, my art honors the beauty and interconnectedness of the world around us.

I love sharing my craft and creating opportunities for connection. I make art primarily for the joy of it, so selling my work isn’t my main focus. I do occasionally offer pieces for sale and accept a small number of commissions that align with my values and time.

To all those who also find joy and purpose in making our world a little brighter, more beautiful, and more kind — welcome! And thank you.

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“I don’t know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

~Mary Oliver, excerpt “The Summer Day”

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