A Conversation With Melissa Corser
Can you tell us a little about your background and how you became an artist?
My passion for art stems from a deep appreciation for interior design and architecture. I truly believe in the importance of a beautifully designed room, as it can be emotionally and spiritually restorative. When curating my own home, I leaned into pieces of art to personalise spaces, create ambience, and hone detail. Through several quintessential Queenslander renovations, I was inspired to study interior design, and at this point, my art evolved to capture a sense of calm. I relish the challenge and possibility impasto palette knife art presents. It allows me to add texture and blend colours to enhance their emotional impact. The beauty lies in how the details you paint up close transform into a different, often more profound, experience when viewed from afar.
What inspired you to focus on nature and landscapes in your work?
I find nature and scenery to be perfect art, and attempting to capture the perfection of nature in a single image is a challenge I love. The complexity and beauty that naturally surrounds us provide me with the ultimate inspiration. The variation of moods that nature presents evokes many different feelings from rugged and dramatic to calm and peaceful. I particularly adore ocean scapes because the sea offers complex blues and suggests contrasting feelings of calm and stillness, depth and darkness, all out of our control and so varied. Landscapes on the other hand, can be wild and flourishing, sometimes with a man-made influence, which I capture in deep Australian greens.
Are there specific landscapes or places that inspire your paintings the most?
We are incredibly fortunate in Australia to be surrounded by such diverse landscapes. The movement of ocean scapes, the tranquillity of lush green rolling hills, and the drama of menacing rain clouds all provide the beauty I seek to capture in my paintings. I have had the privilege of travelling to many stunning locations across Australia, and I strive to express the moments and emotions I experienced at the time within my work.
Do you have any advice for homeowners on selecting art for their spaces?
Art is an incredibly personal experience, inspiring a feeling in the viewer created by the hand of the artist. When purchasing art, I look for immersive experiences and emotions within the work. I start by focusing on colours, textures, and sentiments that will complement the ambiance I am building into the room design. I have often found that a beautiful colour palette in an artwork can provide the design foundations for an entire room, enticing viewers to step into the artist’s world. The bespoke nature of original art can be the perfect way to add a unique quality to a room, ensuring each investment is cherished for generations.
How can art, particularly landscapes, transform a room’s ambiance?
The diverse colours, textures, and ever-changing moods in nature provide the perfect material for conveying feelings and emotions. I believe that landscape paintings can bring movement and life to a room in a way that static objects cannot. Looking into a landscape painting can transport you to a location and summon the feeling of being there. The serene blues of ocean scapes can capture feelings of calm and stillness, while the lush greens of the countryside can bring a sense of vitality and growth. These elements can offer a visual escape, a connection to nature, and elevate the overall aesthetic of the home. I hope my original works reflect their new owner’s unique taste and appreciation of fine art, and that they are cherished for generations to come.