Soft light bathes the Westmoreland Waterwheel in this painting by Melanie Wood.

Melanie Wood.  Ahh, Melanie Wood.  For those of you following our blog, you know we met her in 2012, wrote about her beautiful home studio and richly colored impressionistic art, and then republished the post again this spring in anticipation of a second visit. We’re grateful for Dogwood Art DeTour 2015  and Melanie’s willingness to open her home once again for visitors to enjoy!

Melanie (who’s truly as gracious as the paintings are lovely) greeted us at the door but then picked right up with her work, just as the Dogwood Arts brochures promised:  “See artists working in their own studios.” And what a studio!  Filled with natural and focused artificial light, Melanie’s art world holds tools of the trade: standing easel, oil paints, assorted brushes, and inspiration everywhere. (Even her clothing that day mimicked the colors she loves.)

Art studio of Melanie Wood

As we faced the patio and the courtyard beyond, we saw paintings on display literally glowing in the morning light: flowers, country homes, even fish in Melanie’s soft colors of blue, gray, peach, rose, and yellow.

Close-up of Melanie Wood painting featuring a blue color palette.

This year, Melanie told us, I’ve modified my color palette a bit.  You’ll see more blues since that’s what is trending in home decor.  (Melanie is vice-president of design for a leading home fashion manufacturer.) One of the onsite volunteers directed us to the dining room to view the “new” paintings on display.  The same subject matter — floral arrangements, still life, homes in the country — filled the room but with the colors of indigo, pale blue, and cream that Melanie is incorporating into more and more of her paintings.

On display in the Woods’ dining room were a few pieces in Melanie’s new color palette.

In the living room, more traditional paintings were on display — mostly studies of people and places the Woods have visited, all with the vibrant color and joie de vivre that typify Melanie’s art.

Painting of ballet dancer hangs above a desk in Melanie Wood’s living room.

Tranformed into a staging area for more paintings for Art DeTour was Melanie’s sunroom. It held paintings a bit more contemporary, perhaps, but with Melanie’s signature soft colors and the muted blues she’s using now. We admired the one of a single boat on still waters for its serenity and peacefulness.

It was during our first visit in 2012 that we purchased one of Melanie’s originals of a home in France.  Today, Melanie’s portfolio includes even more colorful countryside vignettes reminiscent of the travels abroad she and husband Tom still talk about.

If you asked us what we liked best about this stop on the Art DeTour — the artist, the paintings, or the home studio — we would be hard pressed to make a decision.  Let’s just say this:  If Melanie Wood is a featured artist in 2016, we’ll do all we can to see her — and the art — again!

Home and studio of artist Melanie Wood, Knoxville, Tennessee

Melanie Wood, Artist: 1000 Craigland Court, Knoxville, TN 37919; www.melaniewoodart.com; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melanie.wood.731?fref=ts

For more information on the Dogwood Art DeTour or any of the Knoxville Dogwood Arts Festival events, click here.

For more posts on this series focusing on Knoxville’s Dogwood Arts Festival, click here.