Melissa Mulder

Revealing the essence and intricacies of the natural world as experienced through the lens of a retired florist & nature addict in Fresco Secco Relief. Each artwork is hand made in cast relief process by using nature itself as a paintbrush. I have walked in the essence and mystery of flowers and nature my whole life. Since the age of 16 I have been immersed in the world of florals and art. I grew up in the art room of my high school and in the halls of Sheridan college’s Art wing, in tandem with working in flower shops from a young age. I graduated art school and headed to floral design school and then off to Holland to learn from master florist’s. I fell deeply in love with the treasures of the natural world. After working successfully for 25 years in the floral arts, my current art aims to express how I perceive the form and mystery of nature's gifts… in a non-perishable way so that you can feel what I feel and see what I see. I long to stop time and hold it in my hands for just a while, and this allows me to do so. The age-old process of cast relief has documented and transferred botanical medicinal history from generation to generation. Using those techniques capturing elements of nature to result in earthy kissed, hand crafted plaster reliefs which impart a peaceful and curious connection to the viewer has been a joy that I strive to repeat daily. Each piece is handmade using flowers or natural elements foraged or planted from my garden or in exchange with local flower growers. Each piece bears tiny earthy deposits of seed and flower or sediment of soil or clay to create a uniquely warm one of a kind "perfectly imperfect" finish to each individual piece.