Featured Artist – Melody Maleitzke
Q & A
Q: Tell us a little about your art.
A: I create images on canvas with washi tape.
Q: Why did you start doing what you do?
A: I discovered washi tape when I was looking for ways to decorate clear plastic containers. One day, my daughter claimed she was bored and I said, “Let’s play with the washi tape.” We decided to do portraits of each other on canvas. That first portrait sparked more creativity and excitement to push the medium, and see where it took me.
Q: What makes you different from others in your field.
A: I adore the imperfections and impermanence of washi tape on canvas. I look forward to the day when my art will fall off the canvas, with only the faint hint of the pencil sketches remaining. I don’t think most artists want their art to disappear. It’s an exercise in letting go for me.
Q: What are your biggest influences?
A: Nature is my biggest influence. I learn from it daily.
Q: Tell us something most people don’t know about your process.
A: I cut up gorgeously designed washi tape into tiny pieces in order to create the dimensions in my work. I rarely ever leave more than a 1/4 inch of the original tape intact, unless it has a word on it that I must have for my piece.