Melody Montero-Ortiz, Blossom I, oil on canvas, 18" X 24", 2010

The Art Museum of Southeast Texas is pleased to present a new café exhibition, Melody Montero-Ortiz: All Things Bright and Beautiful, for the winter quarter. Born in Tampa, Florida, Melody Montero-Ortiz has called Beaumont, Texas home since 1993. She did not pursue painting until after her children were born. She studied under the tutelage of Jerry Newman, Judy Crowe and Colley Whisson and has taken workshops from nationally known artists such as Qiang Huang, William Jameson, Robert Liberace and Suzie Baker. All these artists have helped her take her art to the next level.

Melody says that her goal as an artist is to be able to communicate visually in such a way as to stimulate the viewer’s imagination to see not only with their eyes but also with their hearts. She hopes to evoke a mood to which viewers will respond and works to have the commitment, self-discipline and perseverance that will take her further in her artistic career.

Melody can often be found at art shows exhibiting her works and also learning from other artists. She enjoys the Plein Air setting for painting and is inspired by the environment around her. She also likes to paint different subject matters, including still life, figurative works and landscapes.

“My brush is just an extension of how I see the world. I paint whatever moves me at the moment. My paintings are a reflection of what I find beautiful in the world around me. Painting has always been my passion and my way of relaxing. It fills me up with joy.”