Melissa Panth
Ontario
Melissa Panth is a Canadian artist who has her feet in different worlds.
MessageMelissa Panth was born in 1978 in London Ontario Canada. Panth was raised on a hobby farm just outside of the city. Panth grew up surrounded by books, nature, and had many different species of animal friends. Panth’s artwork reflects her friendships with animals and gives glimpses into her rich fantasy life. Influenced by literature, nature, personal struggles, and her impressions of humanity, Panth’s work often conveys magic in the darkness while remembering and relishing the pure joy experienced in the innocence of early childhood.
Statement
I create sculptural works, by first realizing what real-world creature matches the emotion ignited in me by the concept unless a specific animal has already popped into my mind’s eye. After researching different animals, I begin building an armature and sculpting the features in polymer. After their faces and expressions have been completed, I then pick fabrics, beads, scavenged fur, or whatever else the piece demands. The fabrics usually are second hand or discarded clothing and people’s unwanted sewing scraps. The colour scheme is based on the intended emotion. I work intuitively and feel as though the works create themselves by using my hands. The creation process usually involves clay sculpting, painting, resin casting, and multiple textile art techniques like flocking, hand sewing, hand beading, embroidery, felting, and crocheting. The sculptures that I create are a blend of real animals and my internal daydream of talking animal friends that have been carefully dressed in royal garb, sewn by passionate mice. Life is full of challenges and each creation is a friend that has brought joy into my life. I also write, illustrate and paint.
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