Melissa Lakey had been drawing and painting for as long as she could remember, but her art practice lacked consistency until recently. It was towards the end of 2020 when her best friend, Natalie Lundeen, an illustrator herself, proposed an idea. They decided to start drawing together over Zoom.
Melissa and Natalie turned it into a weekly ritual, dedicating Tuesday nights to their drawing sessions. Each week, they would choose a different theme and immerse themselves in it. To add to the fun, they would even select beverages that matched the theme and occasionally dress up accordingly. Melissa fondly remembered the winter nights when they would wear fuzzy hats and sip hot cocoa as they sketched snowy scenes. Although they had eased up on the elaborate outfits and drinks as time went on, their tradition persisted a year later.
The joy Melissa experienced through this artistic camaraderie rekindled her passion for drawing. She discovered a newfound love for working in sketchbooks, which became an integral part of her creative process. Inspired by Emma Carlisle, an artist she admired, Melissa became a patron and eagerly consumed Emma's videos about drawing on location. The content ignited a desire within her to explore her local surroundings with fresh eyes. She would seek out little moments to sketch, even if it meant spending a few minutes sitting in a grocery store parking lot before going inside. The allure of capturing these fleeting scenes became irresistible, and Melissa found herself hooked.
Drawing not only became a source of pleasure but also a catalyst for growth. Melissa began enrolling in online classes offered by artists whose work she admired. These classes pushed her to develop her unique style and delve into drawing from memory and imagination—something she had always yearned to do but didn't know how to approach. As a result, Melissa's artistic journey expanded, and she started incorporating a mix of on-location work, reference photos, and her own imagination into her daily practice. Although working in sketchbooks remained her favorite activity, she gradually started working on larger pieces and striving to create more polished, finished artworks.
Melissa Lakey's artistic evolution had blossomed, thanks to the supportive bond with her friend Natalie and the inspiration she drew from artists like Emma Carlisle. The once sporadic art practice had transformed into a consistent and fulfilling creative journey, opening doors to new possibilities and artistic horizons.
Tips to fellow Artists:
Explore new places and different subject matters, experiment with art materials, and discover what you love to draw and paint! Make lots of art, and don’t worry too much about it being “good” or “bad.” Find some other artists — either online or in person — and draw and paint together and encourage each other along. Sometimes having someone else who is also drawing at the same time helps you to get started.
Connect with Melissa
Instagram Website
