"The professional artist Angela Melkis romantic tree obsession is immediately recognisable for its wistful naïve beauty and surreal imaging. That the planet is being denuded of these necessary living organisms has not escaped Angela's attention to detail adding to their importance for us all. The stark use of colours giving the relevance of trees a powerful statement for our very existence and future wellbeing. The poignant singular images in Angela's paintings are a powerful reminder of what the very beauty of tree’s also really means to us all and our world" C. Balmain

Biography

I am a professional British artist born in the Midlands, how living in Hampshire. My need to create comes from a desire to play, which along with having always been a daydreamer results in my work being colourful and naive in nature.

OK, what’s this thing I have with Trees?

I have always loved being outdoors and find the peace, beauty and tranquillity very therapeutic. Trees can be the most commanding feature in a landscape, and will make most people stop and take a moment to reflect. They have long been seen as a spiritual life force, and there is no doubt in the role they pay in clean air and climate change.

The Japanese practice of  ‘shinrin-yoku’  (Forest Bathing) is proven to lower heart rate and blood pressure, reduce stress hormone production, boost the immune system, and improve overall feelings of wellbeing. Being in the presence of trees is good for you.

Personally I have a great respect and love for them, and I do find them spiritual as being around them makes me feel calm and relaxed. The process of painting them is like a form of meditation for me, and I have been told by people that looking at my paintings calms them and makes them feel peaceful. Recently I have found myself painting lone trees, and I see them as personalities.

Do the trees come from my imagination or real life?

I paint trees how I think they look, rather than how they actually look. I sometimes start with a photo or sketch of an actual tree, but I find that working too closely from these and trying to get an accurate representation stifles my creativity. It is much more fun to try to capture its personality and the way it makes me feel by using my imagination. I start with the trunk and main branches, and then I let them take on a life of their own as the mood of the paintings develops. I must admit that I often find myself talking to them, as their personalities develop.

Is there anything that I want the viewer to take from my work?

When I paint my trees and landscapes I am trying to capture the way the subject makes me feel, whether I’m in awe of its striking beauty or soothed by its calmness and peace. They are an intimate reflection of the inner peace that I get from being alone with nature. I hope that the viewer connects with the work in a way that is personal to them.