Meet Melissa Bruce!
Melissa is one of PPWS’ Featured Artists for June 2026!
Melissa has been a member of PPWS since 2025 and is an Associate Member.
Melissa’s Bio:
Melissa’s love of nature developed and was nourished during bird walks with her mother and exploring the forest on weekends spent at their lake cottage on Lake Catherine in Arkansas. Melissa Bruce’s art journey began with small group private art lessons in childhood, arranged by her mother in the absence of art education in the public schools in their small community.
A scholarship to a summer art camp in the 11th grade expanded her interest. In college she majored in Art and English, until her career path took a detour in her junior year when she discovered a passion for speech-language pathology. During her years as a university clinic director at the University of Vermont and University of Houston, she found time for the occasional watercolor class. Indeed, it was, and continues to be, through the watercolor mentorship of Anne Gordon in Vermont that Melissa has been inspired to pursue her growth in watercolor painting. Since retiring, Melissa has nurtured her love of painting with a dedication to watercolor and acrylics. Her focus is that of capturing the beauty of landscapes and nature.
Melissa’s favorite things to paint:l
Landscapes and features of nature.
Besides watercolors, Melissa also works in acrylics and occasionally oils.
Melissa’s favorite or most admired artists:
Anne Gordon, Signature Member of the New England Watercolor Society, Camille Pissarro, and Andrew Wyeth
Melissa’s goals for the next year:
I look forward to trying watercolor on yupo, and combining pen and ink with watercolor.
FAVORITE ARTSY QUOTE
“It’s just not finished yet.”
– Carole Patton
Melissa’s Tip or Trick:
Magic Eraser!!!
