Art Without Schooling, Guided by Love
I never went to art school. I don’t have formal training in painting.
What I did have was influence. I grew up alongside sisters who lived and breathed art and architecture, and I learned the way children often do—by watching, listening, and quietly absorbing. As life carried us into adulthood, they continued to guide and encourage me from afar, each following her own creative path, still shaping mine in subtle and lasting ways.
Before The Mello Way came into being, I had the opportunity to share a few paintings with others—pieces created slowly, with care, that found homes beyond our own. Those moments affirmed something simple and deeply grounding: art made with intention has a way of connecting people.
As The Mello Way began to take shape, many of our Saturdays quietly turned into small painting classes.
Not planned. Not perfect. Just present—and intentionally fun.
What began as simple moments around the table slowly grew into a shared family practice. Paint on our hands, sometimes music in the background, sometimes just conversation—time moving a little more slowly than usual.
Over time, the boys didn’t just paint. They began to see.
They became honest critics—sometimes brutally realistic—and offered thoughtful feedback that helped improve the work. Their perspectives became a reminder that art doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful; it needs to be honest.
This past winter, we created a small series of paintings to honor friends and family. Each piece was made with intention—surrounded by calming music, mindful energy, and a clear purpose: to create something that carries feeling into a home, not just form.
Through our paintings, we hope to offer a small token of stillness.
A reminder to pause, to savor our short time together here on Earth, and to create moments that turn a house into a home.
If you’re interested in commissioning a painting or learning more about this process, we invite you to reach out. Each piece is created slowly, thoughtfully, and with care.
