Melynda Van Zee

8/2/2023

As a long-time art instructor and educator, Melynda Van Zee knew the techniques she needed to teach her students. Underpainting, shadowing and more help budding artists develop a framework to start their creation.

Meanwhile, in the back of her mind, Van Zee dreamed of being a fine artist and creating works with acrylics on canvas.

She published a book on art techniques in 2007, yet the recession created challenges. She painted murals and faux finishes but longed to focus on her fine art. 

“I finally made the transition to painting on canvas,” she recalls. “I said ‘no’ to a lot of other things, and I said ‘yes’ to painting.”

Van Zee started with a small art fair and displayed her work at libraries, college campuses and other small venues. 

“It was wonderful and a little scary for others to see my ideas and thoughts on a canvas,” she says.

As she expanded her work, she branched out, traveling to larger art shows. She learned marketing techniques and discovered what artwork people responded to. She became comfortable calling herself an artist. 

“This is what I wanted to do. I got bit by the bug. When people responded to my work, it was thrilling,” she says.

Today, her artwork is found at Mainframe Studios. For 20 years, she worked in her home and managed her art business. Now, for the first time, she can showcase her gallery space. 

“It’s fabulous. I can open up the door and everything is here,” she says.

Her artwork consists of bright colors and texture — namely spirals and circles. She has a passion for astronomy, movement and galaxies. Many of her paintings are based on gravitational lines. 

“It’s like a metaphor to find energy to sustain a creative life. Spirals are the most common design form in nature. Spirals and circles are symbolic of change,” she reflects. “It gets you from point A to point B.”

When viewing her artwork, patrons mention some shapes look like a Spirograph drawing, based on the drawing game. 

“I still have my Spirograph,” she laughs. “I don’t use it on my paintings. I use a squeeze bottle and free-hand the work. After years of doing it and decades of muscle memory, I can draw clean lines.”

Her artwork is a swirling of thoughts, experiences and ideas in her head. She captures these feelings and puts them on a canvas as a way of connecting the dots. She’s constantly coming up with new ideas. 

“Capturing and gathering through my experiences and putting them into art — that will never stop. It never gets old.”

Van Zee grew up in a rural Iowa community, where there weren’t many professional artists as role models. She feels fortunate to be in the line of work and continue to mentor other artists. 

“I’ve spent my life teaching people to be creative. I want to continue that and sustain a practice of large-scale painting. My goal is to keep doing the work,” she says. ♦