Melani Grube
Artist, Proprietress
Melani Grube
Artist, Proprietress
Are you an intelligent, dynamic, motivated individual, but caught up in the demands of family and career?
Is your life a little more full than fulfilling?
You want to be inspired and you want your space, whether at home or office, to express your distinctive style.
I get it, because I face the same challenges.
I'm Melani Grube and I make art that calls to your incredible inner voice. I'm an artist... but I wasn't always.
Well, I've always made things, drawn and painted, but I never called it art. I was focused on academics, so I just made art behind my back, so to speak.
I made art behind my own back.
That is, until I re-entered the workforce after taking a break for raising my family. I decided to become an elementary school teacher. But when I started my teaching credential classes, I started getting sick. Really sick. Two years of a series of unrelated illnesses and two surgeries sick.
Finally, when I felt like the life was being squeezed out of my body, like paint out of a tube, I asked myself what did I do to deserve this? What did I do?
A little voice said, "It's not what you did. It's what you didn't do, you didn't pursue your passion. You didn't devote yourself to your art.
So, I committed myself to building a career in art and the illnesses disappeared.
As I set forth in my new endeavor, I struggled with finding a way to express the world that I experienced inside me. Traditional media, like oil paint and watercolors, seemed to fall short, leaving me with a dead feeling. I decided to take a weekend retreat alone with my craft. It was a showdown, just my art materials and me. We were going to get to know each other better than we ever had before.
So, I drew, I painted, I tested color combinations out on the side and scribbled preliminary sketches. It was hard to grasp exactly what wasn't working for me. My paintings seemed fine, but fell short. Yet, I always felt hope when I looked back at those preliminary color studies and sketches. They excited me.
And then, I realized that was it. That loose, raw rendering of the ideas in free strokes of ink and arrays of color, spatters and dabs, this is where the magic lay. In my inner world, they wanted to be together, ink and paint, and they wanted to run the show in their own organic style.
Those loose, raw rendering of ideas, this is where the magic lay.
So, I broke the rules in my head and combined fantasy and reality, paint and ink, and pastels for deepening and drawing out the image. My inner world danced before my eyes. I was elated.
But when I showed my new style to my family and friends, their reaction was silence.
It was not speaking to them.
And I got the same reaction from the art community. Then, I stopped believing in my voice and developed a style more in line with what others around me were doing.
But when I took my new work in for a portfolio review with an industry pro, his response was silence and “Is that all?”
I was confused. I was devastated. I had worked so hard, and all for nothing.
I had worked so hard, and all for nothing.
Are you an intelligent, dynamic, motivated individual, but caught up in the demands of family and career?
Is your life a little more full than fulfilling?
You want to be inspired and you want your space, whether at home or office, to express your distinctive style.
I get it, because I face the same challenges.
I'm Melani Grube and I make art that calls to your incredible inner voice. I'm an artist... but I wasn't always.
Well, I've always made things, drawn and painted, but I never called it art. I was focused on academics, so I just made art behind my back, so to speak.
I made art behind my own back.
That is, until I re-entered the workforce after taking a break for raising my family. I decided to become an elementary school teacher. But when I started my teaching credential classes, I started getting sick. Really sick. Two years of a series of unrelated illnesses and two surgeries sick.
Finally, when I felt like the life was being squeezed out of my body, like paint out of a tube, I asked myself what did I do to deserve this? What did I do?
A little voice said, "It's not what you did. It's what you didn't do, you didn't pursue your passion. You didn't devote yourself to your art.
So, I committed myself to building a career in art and the illnesses disappeared.
As I set forth in my new endeavor, I struggled with finding a way to express the world that I experienced inside me. Traditional media, like oil paint and watercolors, seemed to fall short, leaving me with a dead feeling. I decided to take a weekend retreat alone with my craft. It was a showdown, just my art materials and me. We were going to get to know each other better than we ever had before.
So, I drew, I painted, I tested color combinations out on the side and scribbled preliminary sketches. It was hard to grasp exactly what wasn't working for me. My paintings seemed fine, but fell short. Yet, I always felt hope when I looked back at those preliminary color studies and sketches. They excited me.
And then, I realized that was it. That loose, raw rendering of the ideas in free strokes of ink and arrays of color, spatters and dabs, this is where the magic lay. In my inner world, they wanted to be together, ink and paint, and they wanted to run the show in their own organic style.
Those loose, raw rendering of ideas, this is where the magic lay.
So, I broke the rules in my head and combined fantasy and reality, paint and ink, and pastels for deepening and drawing out the image. My inner world danced before my eyes. I was elated.
But when I showed my new style to my family and friends, their reaction was silence.
It was not speaking to them.
And I got the same reaction from the art community. Then, I stopped believing in my voice and developed a style more in line with what others around me were doing.
But when I took my new work in for a portfolio review with an industry pro, his response was silence and “Is that all?”
I was confused. I was devastated. I had worked so hard, and all for nothing.
I had worked so hard, and all for nothing.
But then, I tentatively pulled out my original work from the weekend solo retreat and held my breath.
The pro nodded.
“Do this. Do MORE of this.”
My path is to create art that inspires you, that ignites your inner world, and encourages you on your own journey.
But then, I tentatively pulled out my original work from the weekend solo retreat and held my breath.
The pro nodded.
“Do this. Do MORE of this.”
My path is to create art that inspires you, that ignites your inner world, and encourages you on your own journey.
Join me online at:
Where I'll be...
In Person:
Well, VIRTUALLY In Person, September 10th, 2020: The Sac Open Studios Launch Party wants YOU! We will have it in VIRTUAL form this year and it's gonna be great, so I hope you can make it by electronic device of your choice.
September 19th and 20th, 2020: You're invited to see my virtual Open Studio through the Verge Center for the Arts' Sac Open Studios VIRTUAL Tour! You will be able to watch a LIVE interview with me on the Verge's website, read all about me on the Verge's website (and of course, right here!) You will be able to join me for Livestreams on Instagram and Facebook where I demonstrate how I create art and a hands-on workshop for kids of all ages on creating Little Illustrations! So much fun! And I will give you a tour of my studio and original paintings. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but I will update this, as needed, so check back.
Exhibiting:
July 9th through July 25th, 2020: You can see one of my paintings in the "Roaring in the 20's" Show, a display of Rancho Cordova Arts Members work at the Mills Station Arts & Culture Center, 10191 Mills Station Rd., Rancho Cordova, CA. The Center will require masks and be enforcing social distancing, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
September 19th and 20th, 2020: You're invited to see my virtual Open Studio through the Verge Center for the Arts' Sac Open Studios VIRTUAL Tour! You will be able to watch a LIVE interview with me on the Verge's website, read all about me on the Verge's website (and of course, right here!) You will be able to join me for Livestreams on Instagram and Facebook where I demonstrate how I create art and a hands-on workshop for kids of all ages on creating Little Illustrations! So much fun! And I will give you a tour of my studio and original paintings. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but I will update this, as needed, so check back.
You can follow me on Facebook here and Instagram here .
Join me online at:
Where I've been...
December 6th, 2019 through March 5, 2020: A huge array of my artwork was on display at the Roseville Chamber of Commerce (650 Douglas Bl., Roseville, CA 95678) as part of the Blue Line Arts "Art at Work" Program.
Sunday, December 15th, 2019: I enjoyed seeing you all at the very exciting THIRD Reception for the Journey of Hope 2019 Show, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM at the Crocker Art Museum, 216 O Street, Sacramento, CA. My painting, "Flowing Over" was on display and you were able to read the compelling stories of individuals' mental health journeys and see the incredible artwork by the many artists inspired by these stories.
November 28th, 2019 through December 31st, 2019: You were able to see my painting and all the other paintings by wonderful artists in the Journey of Hope 2019 Show, at its THIRD and final venue: the Crocker Art Museum, 216 O Street, Sacramento, CA. My painting, "Flowing Over" was on display and you were able to read the compelling stories of individuals' mental health journeys and see the incredible artwork by the many artists inspired by these stories.
November 5th, 2019 through October 27th, 2019: You could see my painting and all the other paintings by wonderful artists in the Journey of Hope 2019 Show, at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center, 5330 Gibbons Dr., Carmichael, CA. My painting, "Flowing Over" was on display and you wwew able to read the compelling stories of individuals' mental health journeys and see the incredible artwork by the many artists inspired by these stories.
Saturday, November 8th, 2019: We had the second Reception for the Journey of Hope 2019 Show, 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center, 5330 Gibbons Dr., Carmichael, CA. My painting, "Flowing Over" was on display and you were able to read the compelling stories of individuals' mental health journeys and see the incredible artwork by the many artists inspired by these stories.
Saturday, October 5th, 2019: We had the first Reception for the Journey of Hope 2019 Show, at the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center, 9683 Elk Grove Florin Rd., Elk Grove, CA. My painting, "Flowing Over" was on display and the Show has a booklet so you could read the compelling stories of individuals' mental health journeys and see the incredible artwork by the many artists inspired by these stories. I got to meet the writer of the story that inspired my piece.
Saturday and Sunday, September 21st and 22nd, 2019: My Open Studio Party, 10 AM to 5 PM at the Dreamland Studio, 5725 Audrey Way, Fair Oaks, CA. My newest paintings, as well as some of my classics were on display. I gave demonstrations of how to showcase the art in your home, with tips, techniques, and examples. There were snacks for you. You could check out everything there was to see, and chat with other guests. I loved hanging out with everyone and showing them around. See more about the Open Studio Party here.
Saturday and Sunday, September 21st and 22nd, 2019: My Open Studio Party, 10 AM to 5 PM at the Dreamland Studio, 5725 Audrey Way, Fair Oaks, CA. My newest paintings, as well as some of my classics were on display. I did a demonstration of how to showcase the art in your home, with tips, techniques, and examples. I shared an array of snacks, we chatted, and I showed people around my various series of artwork. See more about the Open Studio Party here.
September 12th through September 29th, 2019: You could view my painting, "Year of the Rooster" on display along with the incredible artwork of many of the artists participating in the Sac Open Studios Tour for the 2019 Sac Open Studios Tour Preview Show, at the Verge Center for the Arts, 625 S Street, Sacramento, CA.
Thursday, September 12th, 2019: I had a great time with you at the Launch Party for the Sac Open Studios Tour, at the Verge Center for the Arts, 625 S Street, Sacramento, CA. My painting, "Year of the Rooster" was on display and you were able to preview the incredible artwork of many of the artists participating in the Sac Open Studios Tour this year.
Saturday, August 17th, 2019: I had a reception for my Solo Show: Dreamland Tour, 5 PM to 8:30 PM at Threads Clothing Exchange, 223 Vernon Street, Roseville, CA. You could take a tour of 11 of my paintings that sample my various series of artwork, as part of Roseville's 3rd Saturday Art Walk, put on by Blue Line Arts.
July 13th through September 5th, 2019: Come see my Solo Show: Dreamland Tour, at Threads Clothing Exchange, 223 Vernon Street, Roseville, CA. Take a tour of 11 of my paintings that sample my various series of artwork, as part of Roseville's 3rd Saturday ArtWalk, put on by Blue Line Arts.
August 1st through 31st 2019: You could view my painting, "The Aviary" on display along with the incredible artwork of the artists participating in Weekend 2 of the Sac Open Studios Tour for the 2019 Sac Open Studios Tour Partnership Show, at the Sac Fine Arts Center, 5330 Gibbons Drive B, Carmichael, CA.
April 15th through July 27th, 2019: A variety of artists showed their own versions of paintings by the great masters at the Re-Mastered Show in the Rancho Cordova City Hall at 2729 Prospect Park Dr. #117, Rancho Cordova, CA. My painting, "The Kiss", inspired by Gustav Klimt's painting of the same name, was on display. See more about "The Kiss" here and here.
July 11th through July 20th, 2019: I exhibited my paintings, "Skelly Pirates" and "Winter's Icy Breath", at the Rancho Cordova Arts Inaugural Members Show, at the Mills Station Arts & Culture Center in Rancho Cordova, CA. You can see all about "Winter's Icy Breath" here. I will put "Skelly Pirates" up on the site soon.
July 11th, 2019: I enjoyed visiting with everyone at the reception for the Rancho Cordova Arts Inaugural Members Show, at the Mills Station Arts & Culture Center in Rancho Cordova, CA. I exhibited two of my paintings, "Skelly Pirates" and "Winter's Icy Breath". You can see more about "Winter's Icy Breath" here. I will put "Skelly Pirates" up on the site soon.
Saturday, July 20th, 2019: I had a reception for my Solo Show: Dreamland Tour, 5 PM to 8:30 PM at Threads Clothing Exchange, 223 Vernon Street, Roseville, CA. The show is a tour of 11 of my paintings that sample my various series of artwork, as part of Roseville's 3rd Saturday ArtWalk, put on by Blue Line Arts.
June 1st through July 7th, 2019: An amazing world of birds in the Enchanted Realm: Metaphors of Natural Design Show at Arts Benicia (991 Tyler Street, Suite 114, Benicia, CA). My painting, "The Aviary" was on display among a vast array of intriguing art based on birds and bird life. You can see the print of "The Aviary" here.
May 18th through June 22nd, 2019: I exhibited at the Sanctuary Show at the ARC Gallery (1246 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA). My painting, "Gaia, Upon Finding the Light" was part of the online show, showing on the monitor and I would love for you to see the rest of the gorgeous artwork there. I am truly honored to have been included in this show. See more that I've written about it in my blog post here and here.
June 1st, 2019: I attended the reception for the Enchanted Realm: Metaphors of Natural Design Show at Arts Benicia (991 Tyler Street, Suite 114, Benicia, CA). My painting, "The Aviary" is on display among a vast array of intriguing art based on birds and bird life. You can see the print of "The Aviary" here.
May 23rd 2019: I attended the Crocker Art Museum's "Big Names, Small Art Auction" and my painting, "Dancer in Flight" was auctioned off. What an event!!! [This last link goes to Instagram, so if you're on a desktop/laptop computer, you won't be able to read the whole caption post about it, unless you (and this is a hack I just figured out on my own, hoo hoo!) highlight part of the text of the caption - not a comment- that you can see and then use your arrow key to move up to the top of the post and read on down through it.]
March 31st through May 25th 2019: I exhibited my painting, "Spring Amongst the Poppies" at the Spring Show at Nautilus Tea Company (11771 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks, CA 95628). See more about "Spring Amongst the Poppies": the original painting here, and prints here. See more about Nautilus Tea Company here.
March 1, 2019 through May 31, 2019: I exhibited my new painting, "Self-Portrait with Paint 2019" at the Mirror Mirror Show at the Studio Tupos Gallery (10149 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks, CA 95628).
March 1, 2019 through March 28, 2019: I exhibited my painting, "The Pear Diptych" at the Lottery for the Arts Show at the Blue Line Arts Gallery (405 Vernon St, Suite 100, Roseville, CA 95678).
Saturday, March 16, 2019: I attended the Reception for the Lottery for the Arts Show at the Blue Line Arts Gallery (405 Vernon St, Suite 100, Roseville, CA 95678). I was there with my painting, "The Pear Diptych".
Saturday, March 2, 2019, 11 am to 1 pm: Opening Party for the Mirror Mirror Show at Studio Tupos Gallery in Old Fair Oaks. Exhibiting my painting, "Self-Portrait With Paint 2019".
February 28, 2019 through March 9, 2019: I exhibited my handlettering piece,
"The Book of Love" at the Carriage Return: The Art of Typography Exhibit at the Mills Station Arts & Culture Center (10191 Mills Station Rd., Rancho Cordova, CA).
February 28, 2019: Artists' Reception for the Carriage Return: The Art of Typography Exhibit at the Mills Station Arts & Culture Center in Rancho Cordova, CA.
December 6, 2018 through March 31, 2019: I exhibited my painting, "Winter's Icy Breath" at the Winter Show at Nautilus Tea Company (11771 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks, CA 95628). See more about "Winter's Icy Breath": creative process here, the original painting here, and prints here. See more about Nautilus Tea Company here.
December 1, 2018 through January 2, 2019: I exhibited my painting, "Reindeer" and my series of paintings for the Nutcracker Ballet at the Christmas Show at the Studio Tupos Gallery (10149 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks, CA 95628). See more about "Reindeer" here and the Nutcracker Ballet series, here.
12/8/18, 11 am to 4 pm: The Opening Party for the Christmas Show at Studio Tupos Gallery in Old Fair Oaks. I had a great time there meeting people and showing them around. I also gave a talk on the inspiration for my Nutcracker Ballet series.
9/15/18 and 9/16/18, 10 am to 5 pm: Solo Show and Open Studio at Pause Coffee House, 8121 Madison Ave., Suite A-1, Fair Oaks, CA. Read more about this here and here.
September 6 through September 30, 2018: I exhibited my painting, "Dancer in Shadow" at the Sac Open Studios Tour Preview Show at the Verge Center for the Arts (625 S Street, Sacramento, CA). See more about "Dancer in Shadow": the original painting here, the print here and the notecard here.
September and October 2018: Solo Show/Open Studio, "Welcome to Dreamland" at Pause Coffee House, 8121 Madison Ave., Suite A-1, Fair Oaks, CA. I exhibited ALL OF THE THINGS. Read more about this here.
9/6/18, 6 pm to 9 pm: Launch Party for the Sac Open Studios Tour and Preview Show at the Verge Center for the Arts (625 S Street, Sacramento, CA). I will be exhibiting my painting, "Dancer in Shadow". See more about "Dancer in Shadow": the original painting here, the print here and the notecard here.
8/11/18, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm: Reception for the Sac Open Studios Tour Preview Show at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center (5330 Gibbons Dr., suite B, Carmichael, CA). I will be exhibiting my painting, "Woman in a Red Raspberry Beret". See more about "Woman in a Red Raspberry Beret" here.
August 1 through August 31, 2018: Exhibited my painting, "Woman in a Red Raspberry Beret" at the Sac Open Studios Tour Preview Show at the Sacramento Fine Arts Center (5330 Gibbons Dr., suite B, Carmichael, CA). See more about "Woman in a Red Raspberry Beret" here.
June 8, 2018 through June 10, 2018: Exhibited my painting, "Wild Horses", at the Art of the Horse Art Exhibit, as part of the Western States Horse Expo at Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA. See more about "Wild Horses" here and here.
June 8, 2018: I attended the Art of the Horse Art Exhibit at the Western States Horse Expo at Cal Expo, Sacramento, CA. I exhibited my painting, "Wild Horses" there. See more about "Wild Horses" here and here.
March 2018: Exhibited "Skelly Ball" at the 6th Annual Open Fine Art Competition at the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center, Elk Grove, CA. See more about the reception here and here and more about "Skelly Ball" here.
March 3, 2018: Attended the reception and received the 2nd place prize in category at the 6th Annual Open Fine Art Competition at the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center (Elk Grove, CA). I was exhibiting my painting, "Skelly Ball". See more about the reception here and here and more about "Skelly Ball" here.
November 2017 through January 21, 2018: Exhibited the paintings, "Skelly Ball" and "Afternoon, Revisited" at the Rancho Cordova City Hall in the Anything Goes Art Exhibit.
November & December 2017: Exhibited "The Nutcracker Ballet" Series at the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center (Elk Grove, Ca.) in the Small Treasures Art Exhibit 2017.
December 2, 2017: Elk Grove Fine Arts Center, Small Treasures Art Exhibit Reception #2
November 18, 2017: Website Launch Livestream from my studio, Fair Oaks, Ca. Livestreamed on Facebook and Instagram.
November 4, 2017: Attended the reception for the Small Treasures Art Exhibit at the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center (Elk Grove, Ca.).
September/October 2017: Exhibited "Afternoon, Revisited" at the Blue Line Arts Center (Roseville, Ca.) in the New Members Gallery.
October 2017: Exhibited "Portait in Song" at the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center (Elk Grove, Ca.) in the Journey of Hope Exhibit 2017.
October 7, 2017: Attended the reception for the Journey of Hope Exhibit 2017 at the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center (Elk Grove, Ca.).
August/September 2017: Exhibited "Skelly Ball" at the Blue Line Arts Center (Roseville, Ca.) in the Members Medley Exhibit.
August 19, 2017: I gave an Artist Talk at the Reception for the Members Medley Exhibit at the Blue Line Arts Center (Roseville, Ca.).
August 2016: Exhibited "Finding Her Voice" at the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center (Elk Grove, Ca.) in the Journey of Hope Exhibit 2016.
August 6, 2016: Attended the reception for the Journey of Hope Exhibit 2016 at the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center (Elk Grove, Ca.).
February 2016: Exhibited "How to Place Stars in the Sky" in the Twitter Art Exhibit 2016, New York, NY.
Spring 2003: Article and illustration published in Crescent Magazine.
Summer 2003: Painting, "The High Priestess", published in Crescent Magazine.