How do you say your name?
Where are you from?
What’s your zodiac sign?
How long have you been an artist?
What inspired your self portraits?
Why a sailboat?
What’s your experience with digital art?
How would you describe your style?
Who are some of your inspirations?
Where do you write?
Are you self taught?
What are your favorite tools?

How do you say your name?

My name is Melody Nieves. Mel-oh-dee Nee-Ev-Ess. The surname is Spanish for Snow.

Where are you from?

Greenport, Long Island NY. Currently residing in CT.

What’s your zodiac sign?

I’m a September Virgo.

How long have you been an artist?

My earliest memories are when I was a kid. So 5 years old onward. My early years were mostly doodles and school related stuff before I started expressing myself more during my pre teens.

What inspired your self portraits?

In 7th grade (2000), I had a school project in Spanish class on famous Spanish artists. I picked Frida Kahlo not knowing much about her at the time. Her raw vulnerability and unabashed presence inspired me to own my own. So I made a series first with my likeness then substituting my image with a sailboat.

Why a sailboat?

Sometimes I include a nod to Long Island in my work by depicting myself as a sailboat. I’ve moved a lot in my life and have never felt glued to one location. The sea is important to me. And the sailboat, to me, represents both my New York roots and the fluid nature to which I live my life.

What’s your experience with digital art?

My first experience with digital art was around 2000, with a photo editing software called Picture It!. Previously owned by Corel. I used it to make graphics for blogs I designed and coded myself. After a period of pause, I reconnected with digital art in 2007 in college and fell in love with digital painting.

Some may remember me from my earlier days as a blog writer, with websites like AWalkInMyShoes and SexiDesign.com. I used these blogs to log my experience as a lover of online marketing, art and entrepreneurship.

How would you describe your style?

I would describe my style as timeless stories told through the lens of surreal digital art–autobiographical surrealism with digital finesse, weaving memory, identity and imagination into symbolic narratives.

I pull from lived experiences, cultural roots, personal research and even spiritual guidance to create intimate scenes of universal experiences.

Who are some of your inspirations?

I have a mixture. Both traditional and modern. I love the art movements of the renaissance and middle ages specifically. And some of the artists I enjoyed were Leonardo Da Vinci, Johannes Vermeer, Frida Kahlo, Julie Dillon, Aquasixio, and more.

Where do you write?

Currently, you can find many of my past articles and tutorials on design and digital art theory here. I’ve operated some kind of online blog since I was about 12/13 but most of that content is lost to the internet.

Are you self taught?

I am self taught mostly. I took every art class available in school. I also majored in architecture at Philadelphia University for one year.

What are your favorite tools?

Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, Apple iPad Pro and a graphics pen tablet.