Arsenal for Today (gold)

My work has been highly influenced by the world of commercial art and graphic design. This translates to my art in many ways. My still life paintings are careful composition full of allegories, which capture a moment in time where all represented items are meaningful beyond the composition.

'Arsenal for Today (Gold)' captures a day in the life of a woman on holiday from the norm. She's ready to relax or party. The handbag (metaphoric for the day) has it's contents strewn about, each a a modern day allegory:
gold bag = happiness
sun glasses = bright vision
fragrance, lip gloss & nail polish = feminine rituals
shoes = fun
keys = freedom
donut key ring = indulgence
eReader = relaxation
pain relief tablets = Escape from the everyday hassles of life
blank piece of paper = no plans
paper crane = creativity

This painting is one in a series of still life painting with handbags, shoes and other mundane everyday items.

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Born in Georgia USA in 1978, Melissa moved to Australian as a baby and grew up in Windang, on the South Coast NSW. Melissa established a career in advertising since 1999, and started portrait and still life painting in 2012. Melissa has been a finalist in many Australian Art Prizes including the Archibald Prize, Eutick Memorial Still Life Award, Kennedy Prize, Kilgour Prize, Pirtek Still Life Award, Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize, Brisbane Portrait Prize, Black Swan Portraiture Prize, Portia Geach Memorial Art Award, John Copes Portrait Prize and the Percival Portrait Prize. Melissa won Wollongong Art Gallery’s ‘Postcodes from the Edge Art Prize’ in 2016.