Meet Melinda Risk | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melinda Risk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melinda, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have been drawing and creating things my entire life so it just naturally happened that I would have a career in art. I worked for others creating after I graduated from college all while maintaining my own business selling my work. I create all of my work myself in my studio and travel to art shows all over the country and I also have my work in several galleries.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started out very young drawing then painting and when I was in high school I took every art class available ( drawing, painting, ceramics and photography .My creative world really expanded when I attended Kent State University. I was taking print making, fibers, 3D design, glass blowing and many other classes and then I took a Jewelry/Metals class and that really interested me. I liked the permanence of metals and I also thought this was a medium that I could make a living selling. Over time my work has evolved into tiny sculptures that can be worn.Each piece is a created by me, by hand using traditional techniques including fabrication, carving, casting, granulation, enameling and forging. I use high karat gold, silver, copper, bronze and combine it with diamonds, gemstones, wood, bone, porcelain, glass and whatever else I need to tell the story.

My work is narrative and I have started making sculptures with a piece of jewelry that can be removed and worn with hopes that it will be enjoyed even when it’s not being worn.

Ideas come from my life experiences and I have no rules when designing. I enjoy the challenge of learning new techniques tell the story. My favorite moment is when the sculpture comes together as I have envisioned it. My work is inspired by nature, music, experiences, feelings and it is very personal and spiritual, ideas flow to me and come out through my hands.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite place is Prophets Town State Park. It is about 15 minutes from my house and I try to go hiking there a few times a week. Originally this area was prairie and this park is restoring the land to a prairie. The park also has two rivers and woods so I get a lot of my inspiration from my hikes there are eagles, otters, beavers, deer and lots of different birds. I also have another favorite spot that I can walk to from my home called The Celery Bog, It’s a nature preserve and it is full of owls and ospreys and many other forest creatures. We have several international restaurants here because we are a university town so there is always good food. Our community has an art museum and an artist coop and a community center that have different things to see and classes. Our community has a trail system for hiking and biking that covers several miles and a fun way to see the area.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mom and my son have been my greatest cheerleaders! They have given me the encouragement that I needed to carry on. This career is very stressful and it can be like riding a rollercoaster with all of the variables that go into being an artist, traveling to shows and trying to sell your work. I also give credit to the people that can see my vision and support my creativity by purchasing my work.

Website: www.melindariskjewelry.com

Instagram: melinda.risk.jewelry

Image Credits
Melinda Risk