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Making Waves with Watercolor
Meet Melissa Thibodeaux of Paper Shells Studio
Step into the serene and color-soaked world of Melissa Thibodeaux, the heart and hands behind Paper Shells Studio. With a brush in one hand and a shell in the other( figuratively speaking), Melissa brings coastal charm to life through delicate washes of watercolor that feel as refreshing as a sea breeze. Her love of painting began early, around five years old, armed with paint-bynumber kits and those magical wateractivated coloring books.“ I devoured those and would finish them in one day!” she laughs. It was clear even then that Melissa’ s imagination flowed as freely as watercolor on paper.
Her business name, Paper Shells Studio, is more than just catchy— it’ s poetic.“ Beachcombing is almost a spiritual experience for me,” she says.“ I truly believe the sea offers us gifts, and whatever we find, we were meant to find.” That deep connection to the coast— paired with her love of painting seashells— is where the name came from. A soft, perfect marriage of sea and paper.“ I love color theory and anything to do with coastal
Tamara Scott, Pink Pelican Art Gallery colors. Watercolor allows me to make a color as bright or as soft as I want it to be.” She’ s quick to admit that not every painting starts off strong.“ They all go through what I call the‘ ugly phase,’” she says.“ But if I push through, something magical usually happens.” That patience is what makes her pieces so special. When asked what advice she’ d give to aspiring watercolor artists:“ Just do it! There are no mistakes … nothing is ever perfect. And use GOOD paper— it makes all the difference!” Melissa will be painting live at Pink Pelican Art Gallery on May 28th from 5pm to 8pm for Wine Down Wednesday.