Fine Artist Louise Mellon Portrays 2013 Kentucky Derby Winner in   Orb Will Fly for Roses

Wellington, FL - July 28, 2014 - And they're off! The 2013 Kentucky Derby 3-year-olds are put to the test. Orb gallops coolly and confidently at the back of the 19 horse pack under jockeyJoel Rosario. Third to last coming into the backstretch and hanging behind until the homestretch, Orb rallies at the eighth pole, bounding with a huge step up the center of the track. He presses past Golden Soul - he wins by 2 1/2 lengths in a time of 2:02.89! History is made for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey with his first career Kentucky Derby winner. Orb flew for the win of the mile and a quarter long Kentucky Derby. And according to artist Louise Mellon, he will fly for roses too. Mellon was commissioned to portray Orb by Howard Slatkin, a family friend of owners Ande and Ogden Mills "Dinny" Phipps. The portrait was intended as a surprise gift for the couple in time for the one year anniversary of Orb's 2013 victory.      Orb Will Fly for Roses "It is a great pleasure to commission Louise Mellon to create a picture," said Slatkin. "She makes it so easy, and it is fascinating to see the way she works, requesting pictures that convey the personality of the animal. Her interest is in capturing what is unique and personal to that animal, and she achieves her aim brilliantly!" Using the few pictures available to her of Orb in action, Mellon placed her bets on what she thought Orb's personality might be like. The bright and whimsical painting is a fun portrayal of the famous Thoroughbred. "I studied the photos we had to get an idea of him, then let my vision propose his imagined exuberance," said Mellon. "Seeing a great bit of mischief in his eyes, I portrayed him leaping joyfully off the ground, just having overturned a stable bucket of red roses, and showing off by waving a few in his teeth." Mellon has an incredible sense that allows her to capture the life of the subjects in her paintings. She utilizes creative colors and concepts along with humor, a hallmark of her impressionist work. She creates a piece that portrays each animal's soul in a way that shows her joy for art while also bringing joy to the owners. "Orb's owners, Dinny and Ande Phipps, were over the moon with the gift from their friend," said Mellon. "They commented that I had captured the horse's personality perfectly! Orb Will Fly for Roses was really fun to paint, and I'm delighted and honored to have been chosen to be the artist!" Slatkin has plenty of praise for Mellon's philosophy, artistic process, and final product. "There is no better gift in the world than commissioning Louise Mellon to do a portrait of a horse or pet," said Slatkin. "Not only does she bring a lifelong love of animals to her work, but also her deep knowledge of the unique personality of each animal, which she brilliantly and sensitively captures in each picture. With her extraordinary exposure to art, and her great talent, she somehow creates pictures that are unique and unlike any others - genius, I suppose. A rare and original talent." About Louise Mellon Mellon was born to a family of artists who encouraged her creativity. She was raised in Middleburg, Va., where she rode and drove horses. Mellon's keen visual sense led her to a career as a commercial photographer and artist. Her work has been seen branding numerous products and covers of prize lists, racing programs and publications. She flew airplanes, helicopters and aerobatics, has resided in several parts of the country, and has traveled the world studying fine art. She has served on several boards, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC and the Collector's Committee of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, VA. She moved to Aiken, S.C., and custom-built a very special studio, where she works, welcomes visiting artists and hosts local events. Mellon's unique view of the world is demonstrated through all her work. Her style is instantly recognizable and certain to bring enjoyment, laughter and wonder. For more information visit Louise Mellon's website at: http://louisemellon.com/

I'm honored to have been asked to provide the painting, "Airborne", as an award for the Gay Polo League 5th Annual Tournament in Wellington, Florida at the Grand Champions Polo Club on April 5th, 2014. What fun!

Wellington show a big success!

I'm back from Wellington where I had a solo show of 56 pieces! I'm very tired but happy with sales, new friends and commissions. Go to the link below to see photos.



http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Private-Reception-to-Celebrate-the-Work-of-Fine-Artist-Louise-Mellon-Held-in-Wellington.html?soid=1102176317759&aid=PJmya83rMXw

We're busy in the studio, packaging about fifty artworks for shipping out tomorrow for a solo show in Florida next week at the Palm Beach International Polo Club. Very exciting, and a lot of work! Pieces going to the collector's event will include polo, dogs, whimsical and general equine. We're driving all the paintings down in the traveling art studio. We'll post photos!

The studio is abuzz

I'm currently working on a 3' x 7' polo piece...it takes two easels to hold it! It is for a show in Wellington, Florida this coming winter, and there will be another of the same size after this one! I'll post work in progress photos to show you how I proceed.
A new collector purchased Holy Toledo and I couldn't be more pleased that it is going to a new home in Ocala, Florida.
Also, any suggestions on improving the look of my website? Changes are coming and I'd like your input!

The babies have galloped this morning and are returning to the nurturing trainer and companionship of the pony horse. This is an oil pastel on board of a scene at the Aiken Training Track in Aiken, SC.

A young rider is starting to outgrow her favorite pony, a senior with many years of having taken good care of her... a meditative moment of mutual trust and love.

This is one joyful doggie! Grommet loves carrots and will never miss an opportunity to devour a whole one. This is a 12"x9" oil pastel on clay board.

Here's a new piece, oil pastel and 9"x12". Over To The Right A Little...what could be better than having a good friend to scratch the itch you just can't reach?
Also, the painting of the cowboy roping the croc has sold to a collector in Florida!

Hello, everyone, and sorry to have been silent for a while. About a month ago I had a small stroke that left my painting hand inoperable. There are still health issues to be resolved, but the coordination in my hand is returning and I'm back to creating.
Here is one I've always wanted to do and appropriate for the upcoming holidays...my sense of humor didn't diminish in the brain attack! It's 10'x10" oil pastel on board and is available for $250, a nice present for someone special.

And this one got finished today...it's called "Turn About Is Fair Play". It's 24" x 60", in two panels that are available separately or together. The croc is $350 and the roper is $500. A little hard to see in this small size, but the cowboy has roped the croc around his belly and the crock has grabbed the rope in his jaws to wage real war with the cowboy. Again, a nice present for someone with a sense of humor! Email me, lwmellon@gmail.com, and I'll send you a larger size to see before you buy.

A little more work has been done on the dust, body and cowboy's arms, the bridle and stirrups...can't wait to see what he has roped!

Here is a roping painting I'm working on; it's quite large, about 30"x40" and a ton of fun to do. Now, the question is: what has our cowboy roped? You know, with my strange sense of humor, it's not going to be just a steer! When this one is finished, there will be a companion piece on the left to reveal the catch!

And a little news item: the painting "A Salute to The 2012 Olympic Horses" has sold and will have a new home with a collector in Atlanta.

Sidelines magazine ran a very nice story in this month's issue and I thought I would share it with you!

http://sidelinesnews.com/weekly-featured/art-that-makes-you-smile-louise-mellon.html

The Katydid Combined Driving Event is November 1-4, and they asked me to provide the invitation and poster. This year is their 10th Anniversary and they wanted a celebratory painting...I was delighted to provide this image!

I'm happy to say that "Can I Play, Too?" has been sold to a happy home and new collector in Atlanta, GA!

Here is the final art ready for the Sidelines magazine cover, saluting the American horses that competed at the 2012 London Olympics. I had a lot of fun doing this one, as I always do!

Ahhh...we're getting close to finished, and ahead of my deadline!!! Hooray! A few more layers and it can be deemed finished, pending the magazine's right to suggest changes, which will be done happily. We have three medals around the horse's neck, flying in the wind, as he's carrying the American flag in his mouth. Do notice his hooves are red, white and blue! You know I can't do a piece without a little extra fun thrown in.

Here are more layers added with many more to go. This is really fun!

This is the beginning of a cover for Sidelines magazine honoring all the American horses that competed at the London Olympic Games in London this year. It is being painted in a larger size than necessary to make it easier for me to get the details, and it can then be cropped and reduced to suit the magazine's needs for banner and side information on articles inside. I'm doing it on pastel board in several kinds of oil pastel, with the harder textured ones underneath.
Several of you have asked why I prefer oil pastel: some years ago, I was a passenger in a carriage driving accident in Acadia National Park in Maine. I was thrown head first into a stone wall at high speed and altitude, and, aside from many broken bones and four surgeries, from the brain trauma I went into early onset of Essential Tremor. What this basically means is that my hands shake (very inconvenient for eating soup), and, as an artist who used to do highly detailed work, I had to find another way to create. I can't control a brush very well, so I experimented with oil pastel sticks and ways to brace my hand and arm to paint. It's kind of like using crayons. My technique had to change, but my creative spirit was always there to spur me on. As time goes by, the condition will worsen and I'll have to morph into the next method of handling art materials. As you can imagine with a wake up call like that, life became very precious to me, and I decided that my mission in life, and especially in this recession, is to cheer people up with my art. If you have ever smiled at my strange painting sense of humor, then you have made me very happy and I know I'm the luckiest girl in the world!

I changed a few things and the name, now "The Dump Truck"! I think that says it all!!