| AT ARMS LENGTH, OIL, 47 x 41. |
By Bonnie Gangelhoff
BORN: San Diego, CA.
ART EDUCATION: Bachelor of fine arts and master of fine arts from Laguna College of Art & Design, Laguna Beach, CA.
STYLE: Colorful twist on realism.
MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE WAY YOU WORK: “I put down bright colors first.”
FIRST ART SALE: “When I was 16, I got a portrait commission for $1,000.”
SECOND-CHOICE CAREER: A detective. “I think it would be amazing but kind of gruesome.”
OTHER PASSIONS: Hanging out with family and friends.
QUIRKIEST TRAIT: “I compulsively check to see if I have locked my car.”
BIGGEST FEAR: Being perpetually alone.
FAVORITE STUDIO MUSIC: Old-time jazz and singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: “Lela Harty, my art teacher, always told me to remember KISS: Keep
it simple, stupid.”
FAVORITE ARTWORK BY ANOTHER ARTIST: Anything by Jerome Witkin or Maurice Sendak.
PRICE RANGE: $100 to $4,000.
NEXT BIG GOAL: “I’m having a children’s book, Bear Crimbo, published this year. I did the illustrations.”
CREATIVE SPARK: The light behind people’s ears.
I’LL KNOW I’VE MADE IT WHEN: “I feel like I’ve already made it.”
GALLERIES: Wendt Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA; www.melanieflorio.com.
Featured in our annual “21 Under 31” article in September 2008