Swimming to the Island

Swimming to the IslandMelissa Lakey is an artist and illustrator based in Joshua Tree, California, where the windows of her art studio look out onto the Mojave Desert. Her colorful mixed media paintings explore the magic of the American Southwest, as well as night, summertime, road trips, solitude, and friendship. She creates work based on both real memories and imaginary places shed like to visit swimming, dreaming, in the sunshine and under the moonlight. About this

Melissa Lakey is an artist and illustrator based in Joshua Tree, California, where the windows of her art studio look out onto the Mojave Desert. Her colorful mixed media paintings explore the magic of the American Southwest, as well as night, summertime, road trips, solitude, and friendship. She creates work based on both real memories and imaginary places she’d like to visit — swimming, dreaming, in the sunshine and under the moonlight. 

About this collection:
Show title: Songs of Summer
Artist statement: The paintings in this series, Songs of Summer, are inspired by memories of summers I’ve had and dreams of summers I'd like to have. Swimming in moonlit lakes, dancing in the rain, napping in the flowers, and singing around the campfire with friends while the stars shine above.
I work in mixed media, combining watercolor, ink, gouache, oil pastel, and colored pencil. I paint quickly, usually without much of a plan, leaving room in each painting for surprises and experimentation. This playful approach keeps art exciting for me.
I hope these paintings inspire you to enjoy the magic of summer: the sunshine, flowers, warm nights, and cool breezes, and that you discover your own Songs of Summer