Melissa Strawser worked in Tavira Print Workshop for 6 years in Portugal mastering experimental etching 

with Bartolomeu cid dos Santos; revisiting in 2025 with honorable invite for 40th anniversary at Casa das Artes

 You can also find her original drawing of a FROG, 

a signature print,  on the mud floor in a small gallery 

in the Alentejo medieval village of Monsaraz near Evora, 

once awarded artist in residence in 2010

Welcome.  I'm Melissa,  4th generation artist, raised in a family setting with Folk artists having deep roots to studio art practice and our Pennsylvania Dutch German heritage and traditions.  I then trained with experimental printmaking artists as a Printmaker, after seeking out Robert Blackburn who I learned alot from at the time.  I then attended Slade School of Art, University College London,  with a 1st  Masters of Art in Printmaking (1993-95) under Bartolomeu cid dos Santos and Sir Stanley Jones,  a key figure in the revival of British post-war printmaking, when I was curious, they obliged to help me take my work on to surfaces for experimentation: I printed on canvas, wood, plastic and metal, I love metal and metal sculpture more, but lean back to canvas right now.  My studio art practice has been my life, to make things, not necessary how it's seen, but how I see it with an eye for color.  The most under-appreciated artists, like my mom, were the most generous in 'Henri' art spirit.  Together, we hold 70 yrs professional experience in creative process.  She showed me what was possible for a woman and then made it appear easy, I continue the channel.   My art is evolving, like hers: with natural, raw, no boundaries and it's about our Everyday.  It's exciting to see the way I do; I'm even more fortunate that I can share with you.   

My work now resides in public & private collections abroad and throughout the USA.  Introductions were made for me to many great artists, but my mom made the intro to Bertoia 30 yrs ago and our wings took flight.  Artist relationships are the meat and potatoes, they feed the hungry and encourage the journey.   Slade was a place where I was not allowed to despair, London did not label my work and my folk traditions, well, that mattered a whole lot abroad.   All of this was pivotal, contextual, powerful pairings both personal and emotional.  I'm indebted to the power of art and learned to immensely appreciate, the under-appreciated, bc I've become one of them, with a torch always in hand.   My work is folk-fine art using a strong traditional technique known as intaglio printmaking.  I've always pulled an artist proof, I've placed my working hands in metal, welding and ink and never looked back.  I migrate between two amazing studios; one was my Mom's, the other Bertoia.  I adore them both.   I store process and idea then let that hide in the place where the lost things go.  I have one Rembrandt Pelican Press, one Legacy Miniature Halfwood Press; and I aspire to bring a 1850 French Ledeuil Workshop Press into my toolbox.  Mystery Prints as conceptual will captivate and begin your art journey, when you walk over that bridge, you'll find a place that leads you to where lost things go.  I let things resurface,  heal, find the beauty that mends and make these little art pieces, at each start of a new year, then all year long.  Mindfulness found in art will always silence noise.   I've always been curious about print narration and publishing forever and a day, so my first book finally published in 2025 and it's called Everyday Art, Folk Art.  This is just a small lens into who I am.  As 4th generation women artist, I aim to move generations forward not tear them down.  I'm grateful for your appreciation of my work.  I'm easy to find and you can visit one studio by appointment, just reach out to me.  Please promise to keep looking for a place where the lost things go and find the mystery.  

Thanks for your visit to learn more, speak soon...         

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'behind the scenes' I'm 4th generation Pennsylvania artist,  

forming connections with you through 'sight unseen' print narratives

 it's part of my generational legacy to tell stories, to make things

 to share art, for community, and for generations to come

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Archival Small Editions

2020 Tree of Life 

2021 Sustainability 

2022 Mirage to Oasis

2023 Art of Flight

2024 Star of the Sea

2025 Biodiversity

2026 Entomology

©Melissa Strawser, All Rights Reserved, 2019