Young artist to watch in 2022
Melissa Ferguson, Exit 10 Onto Green Springs Drive, oil, 20 x 16.
State in Which You Reside: Utah.
Art Education: BFA from Utah Tech University. I plan to continue my education through residencies, workshops, and graduate school.
Style: Realism, but I’ve been inspired by impressionistic works to incorporate more texture and flow.
Creative Spark: Watching another artist work.
Other Passions: World cultures and history, specifically Japanese. While I was a teenager, my family hosted a Japanese exchange student, and the experience opened my world.
One Thing People Don’t Know About You: I took second place in the state’s high school wrestling competition, and I founded the university’s wrestling club.
Best Art Advice Received: Put yourself out there. Waiting until you feel like a “good enough” artist inhibits your success.
Biggest Fear: Failure, but I’m reframing my mindset to focus on the experience and what I’ve gained from it.
Quirkiest Trait: I walk really fast.
Mantra or Motto: A professor emphasized the importance of squinting while painting to simplify the shapes. When I work, I repeat to myself, “Squint and compare!”
Favorite Studio Music: Indie rock from the early 2000s to today.
Favorite Work by Another Artist: FALLEN ANGEL by Alexandre Cabanel. I admire its ability to evoke emotion, and the pure skill and dedication in rendering the flesh tones.
Future Goals: Everything from selling a painting for more than $1,000 to working with a gallery long term. My goals are loose and flexible because that works best for me.
Price Range: $100 to $750.
Representation: Instagram: @jojoferguson.art.