Melissa Smith-Lambert | 2020 Vision Senior Capstone Exhibit

Communication Design

Artist Biography: Melissa Smith-Lambert was born and raised in Magnolia, Arkansas and still lives there today. Growing up, Melissa looked up to her dad, who loved to draw. He showed her a simple drawing in which he turned the word boy into an image on paper. He told her, “Art is an idea in your head that you let out for the world to see.” That was the moment that she fell in love with art. Melissa is currently studying Studio Art and Communication Design courses at Southern Arkansas University and is planning to graduate in May.

Melissa’s art is unique in the way she blends colors, her compositions and layout, and the versatility of media she employs. Her focus is Realism, but she likes to explore work in any style. Melissa has lived a challenging life; so, in her art she wants to create a more positive world. This is because she feels her positive attitude and way of thinking helps shape not only her future, but the future of her children as well. She wants her work to also help others to see that same positivity. Melissa’s technique is different because as she says, “I love to experiment with all kinds of media, and there is no telling what I will come up with!”

The artistic influences that have motivated her throughout her life have been her dad, Darryl Tank, Frank Morrison, and Aaron Blaise, just to name a few. Melissa has participated in the Peach Festival’s Art Show in Ruston, Louisiana, for her acrylic painting, “Beauty on Beauty.” She won second place in her division at the Sidewalk Art Show, hosted by Magnolia Arts, for her painting, “Still Life, Self Portrait.” She was also publicized in the Magnolia Reporter for her painting series, “We are All the Same.” This series was part of her Brinson Fine Art Gallery Exhibition in 2018.

Melissa loves what she does and says, “It is what I have done all my life!” Her growth as an artist, and all that she has yet to learn both excites and challenges her, and she loves a challenge. “I love learning, and art in general, it is so broad that the learning can last for a lifetime!”