Melissa Wilkinson (West Memphis) was selected from a field of 28 applicants to receive a stipend to travel to Washington, DC, for an in-situ examination of wildlife collections housed at the Smithsonian Institution that are unavailable to the public. A watercolor artist whose work currently draws from 19th Century natural history prints, Wilkinson made detailed photographs, notes and sketches of actual plant, animal, fossil and rock collections to inform a new body of work.
Wilkinson earned her BFA in Painting and Drawing from Western Illinois University and her MFA in Painting from Southern Illinois University. She is currently Associate Professor of Art at Arkansas State University.
Shell Secrets 2
Watercolor on paper
All Surface
Watercolor on paper, 16″ x 20″
Gumball Rose
Watercolor on paper
Seeing Beetle; part of series
Watercolor on paper, 8″ x 8″
Shell Secrets 1
Watercolor on paper
Echo; part of series
Watercolor on paper, 16″ x 20″