MELANIE PICARDO LIU

Melanie Picardo Liu is a visual artist born, raised and currently residing in San Francisco. By day, she  builds digital experiences for companies like Zendesk, Lyft, and Eventbrite. By night she makes “rainbow bacon.” She likes astrology, crystals, dance parties, golden retrievers, marshmallow treats, noodles, and xylophones.
 

www.rnelanie.com

“My paintings are happy accidents—fields of color sprinkled with patterned detail. My favorite detail is a squiggle I’ve named ‘rainbow bacon.’ I hope my paintings give people joy.”

“I find inspiration in color, collections of things, accidental  still lifes, textiles, light,  sunsets.  Being in the right environment is really important to my process. I have to be alone, have a wide space to work on, with books or a collection of photos around me. I also really enjoy the work of Richard Diebenkorn, Kindah Khalidy, and Lola Donoghue.”

“My process is one of discovery. I’m constantly trying to figure out where colors and marks ‘live.’ I never know what I’m going to paint before I paint it. I start with a color and see what the piece needs from there.”

“Painting gives me confidence. When I'm painting a lot, I tend to be more sure of myself  with other forms of design. I'm more inspired and more trusting of my intuition. For example, when I’m styling props for a photo, I try to think of it like composing a painting. Is there enough negative space? Are the colors harmonious? Is there a hierarchy  with the subjects in the frame?”

“Five years ago, when I imagined my future life, I imagined that I’d be a painter. I’d have my own  light-filled studio, I’d be married, maybe I’d have a child. In the fantasy, I’d also have a solo show at an art gallery. It hasn't come to fruition yet; I’ve been choosing brand design over painting. But it’s still the dream! I hope in five years I’ll be able to choose painting more, and this time, for sure, I’d like to have children in the picture. I also hope my painting evolves and I’m able to tell color stories in a less chaotic and more intentional way.”