photos by Debi Lorenc
Lofton maintains a studio at her home in the mountains of Big Sur and also has a studio in Carmel. She is a longtime member of the Carmel Art Association which represents her. Her work can also be seen at JHowell Fine Art in Healdsburg CA and Big Sur Vineyards in Carmel Valley CA.
Artist Melissa Lofton was born in Carmel California and is a longtime resident of the Big Sur area. Playing between landscape painting, born out of her love for the natural world, and abstract work, a natural expression of inner worlds, Lofton paints large format canvases in oil, characterized by complex, lively color and texture. She is inspired by the landscape of home in Big Sur: trees, mountains, rocks and sea. She paints the people and everyday objects in her world and in her travels. In her abstract work, Lofton is fascinated with the possibility of painting a more subjective inner world: dreams, thoughts, the qualities and feelings of living on this planet.
ABOUT THE WORK
Many of the paintings shown here are available, either through the galleries representing me listed below or from me directly. Please email me if you have inquiries. My email is melissa@mlofton.com or you can use the inquiries page.
As you can see in the above detail, I often use a mixture of gesso and sand as an undercoat on my paintings. That, and layers of washes underneath, allow for a complex rough texture and color structure. Particularly in the abstract work, there will be areas of glossiness over a predominantly matte texture. This happens when I use gold leaf underneath or metallic or interference pigments on top. It produces a 'brocade' quality that changes with light or the viewer's movements around the room.
These qualities don't show up in photographs or giclee prints.
Nevertheless, I do offer high resolution Giclee prints on paper or canvas. Please contact me if you are curious about them.
GALLERIES
Carmel Art Association
Dolores between 5th and 6th
Carmel CA 93921
831-624-6176
carmelart.org
J.Howell Fine Art
105C Plaza Street
Healdsburg CA 95448
797-431-2584
www.jhowellfineart.com
Big Sur Vineyards Gallery
1 Del Fino Place
Carmel Valley CA 93924
831-652-3020
www.bigsurvineyards.com
CONTACT
melissa@mlofton.com
