Isabel Melendez

Hello! My name is Isabel and I have loved art all my life. I recently graduated from Haverford College with a degree in Art History and Economics. From the day I took my first art class, I have practiced visual arts with many different media, including watercolor, charcoal, acrylics, oil and chalk pastels, and my personal favorite, oil paints. 

Throughout my years of study, I have been drawn to the natural beauty of the world and the ways in which that beauty has been expressed in different cultures and communities. In college, I discovered a number of pathbreaking artists whose work still inspires me, including Vincent Van Gogh, Russell Chatham, Frida Kahlo, Kehinde Wiley, David Alfaro Siquieros, and Camille Claudel. The Haverford faculty, particularly Sylvia Houghteling and Jie Shi, were wonderful mentors, opening the worlds of painting and art criticism to me.

Closer to home, my parents continue to influence me as well. From intricate quilts to bright watercolor landscapes, my mother’s artwork demonstrates the importance of balance in hues and tones. With his detailed field notes, my father has taught me the wonders and  complexities of our continent’s ecosystems, which I strive to express in my work. 

In this phase of my life, my main passion is to share the joy of artistic creation with young artists, just like my family did for me. I hope to teach both technical skills and expressive styles to children from every corner of New Jersey.