persistent bloom
Howdy, I'm Mel, an adventure artist, writer, retreat guide, and craft tutor.
I love to talk about why I intentionally left the "art world", my experiences wth art school, and how to find your creative voice after losing it along the way.
Media/ Podcast appearance inquiries: persistentbloom@gmail.com
I currently do not take sponsorships.
persistent bloom
hi! i'm coming up on my 2-year "i quit my job at apple to do art full time" anniversary and realizing, i should probably make a video about that!
what would y'all want to know about? super curious to hear what you'd like to know.
also, i just got some new pro-photos back (from the incredibly talented Joy Newell) and i feel so ready to start this next year of my life as an artist!
they're peppered all over my website right now so go take a look you beautiful human and thanks for being here!
melmitchelljackson.com/
1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 39
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persistent bloom
new video up that will help support a relaxing and chill afternoon or evening. watch me paint alongside chipmunks and river trout in Sequoia National Park!
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 3
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persistent bloom
I'm finally teaching watercolor online! After 13 years of teaching primarily in-person, I am bringing my most popular watercolor and gouache workshop for beginners to the internet.
This class will take you from fumbling around as a beginner to feeling confident AND it can help you refine your practice as an intermediate artist if you have always wanted to build the confidence picking your own images and making projects outside of a step-by-step art class.
About the class:
When: Sunday Mornings from 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM PST
Dates: October 12th- November 16th
Where: Online (Zoom Room) + recordings sent 48 hrs after each session
Cost: $175 for 15 hours of instruction
melmitchelljackson.com/store/p/beginner-watercolor…
Curious to sign up? Here is what we will do each week:
Week 1: Compositions and Contrast
In our first session, I'll share my simple systems for finding and testing compositions, you'll get hands on in your sketchbook and with your camera (cellphone or non!) and come away with a deeper understanding of what makes a good reference as your painting's foundation.
Week 2: Playing with Paint and Testing Color Theory
In week two we dive right in learning our paint by understanding how to mix and layer colors, then we will create color charts. The color chart system will help you confidently learn to mix what you see, understand the varied behaviors of different pigments, and help you get excited about painting.
Week 3: Drawing Systems, Shape and Contrast
In week three we will finish our color charts, get feedback on them, and dive into learn drawing systems to get our references onto paper and begin our first painting with a limited palette. This will get us practicing how much water to use, how opaque or transparent we want our paint, and develop our understanding of values and layering.
Week 4-Week 6: Starting Your Painting Practice with Support
Once we have our systems in order, we will spend the final three weeks working on our paintings, having supportive critiques, and I'll give demos specifically related to the group's unique interests and questions. You'll also get access to the recordings of demos from past in-person sessions too.
Excited to meet some of y'all in the Zoom Room Classroom
-Mel
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 9
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persistent bloom
Hello! I just got back from a trip to Sequoia National Park where I had an amazing time painting and working through the first week of The Hikers Way, the pod-class I spent most of the summer working on and refining for y'all.
I'm running a tiny informal little blog over on my website where I'm documenting the process of actually doing it along with the folks who've signed up. I've been really surprised by the results and would love for you to take a look. melmitchelljackson.com/doing-the-hikers-way
and btw, because it's self directed with support on Discord and in our Zoom sessions, its totally not to late to join the program and see how time in nature impacts your desire to bloom more deeply into your creativity this fall. you can learn about the whole experience here: melmitchelljackson.com/the-hikers-way
ok that's all for now! enjoy these photos of my adventure, and now I need to get back to editing all the amazing footage we shot for the next video I'll upload for y'all :)
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 31
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persistent bloom
A few shots from the studio to start off your weekend! Hope everyone out there is doing well. New video will be out next week about why artists (myself included) always give up on "The Artist's Way"
3 months ago | [YT] | 25
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persistent bloom
New video up from a tiny adventure turned wacky. I found an accessible fishing dock to hang out at with my back injury to paint and be present, and ope... 50 mile an hour wind gusts had... other ideas.
Drink some herbal tea, hang out with me, and give this one a watch this afternoon or evening!
3 months ago | [YT] | 3
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persistent bloom
New advice-style video up this week inspired by my beginner painting and drawing students. Here are the tips I have picked up over the last decade to help you keep making and improving as an artist!
4 months ago | [YT] | 11
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persistent bloom
Have you struggled to finish an art challenge? Me too. Let's talk about it. I'm working on a new video for you all about how I just completed a thirty day art challenge and what it has meant for my work, creative growth, and practice overall. Do you often give up on these after a certain number of days? Does the need to post on social media slow you down creatively? Let me know in the comments!
If you are looking for a bit of creative inspiration, I wrote some creative quests for you to go on with your community. They are short, playful, and fun ways to connect with others through creative acts. You can read the whole post over here and sign up for my newsletter to stay updated if you like the vibes!
You can read the whole post here:
melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/fumbling-for-joy…
5 months ago | [YT] | 9
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persistent bloom
Adventure Art Injury Update 🐢🌸 as it turns out, I injured my spine and am unsure when I'll be back at 100%. This is a massive blow! It is so hard to move at my normal pace. I still hope to have a video up for y'all at the end of the month about my desire for Discord to get us closer to the "forum culture" of the old internet.
BUT, I wanted to share a positive update despite the physical struggles. Yesterday my partner wheeled out all of my paint supplies, a camping chair, and snacks to one of my favorite spring trailheads so I could paint the California Poppies in Plein Air. Took quite a few breaks sitting in my camping chair, but I am so happy with how these turned out.
Feeling so much joy being able to find a way to spend slow, gentle time in nature. Take this post as a sign to be incredibly gentle to yourself this week, get outside if you can, and remember that human-made crafts are such an important thing to make us feel joy and access balance in these wacky times.
Final note, I have been making adjustments and updates to my website between PT sessions, so feel free to poke around here: melmitchelljackson.com/
6 months ago | [YT] | 31
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persistent bloom
Adventures have been put on pause due to a recent hiking injury! Despite big setbacks, the experience has been humbling and inspiring in a new way. I wrote about what happened in new blog post full of creative prompts for you over on my Substack that is free to read AND listen to. These are all based on concepts that have inspired me through the experience of recovery. If you have been struggling creatively or felt like you're in a rut, this will resonate!
melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/creative-prompts…
6 months ago | [YT] | 5
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