Artist Reception - Melissa Tai and Rachel Caskey

Stop by, enjoy some wine and cheese, and chat with our current artists, Melissa Tai and Rachael Caskey.

Melissa Tai is an adult taught artist; she has studied under many accomplished artists. A life-long creative, she has always found vents for her creativity such as writing, crafting, gardening, and cooking. Choosing watercolor for professional endeavors, Melissa loves to take advantage of the flow and freedom of wet into wet; then allow it to dry to get more detailed. Melissa notes "Over the years, I have sought to gear my work towards a more sustainable and Eco-friendly presentation. I felt that my love of nature could be further expressed by a 'reduce and reuse' approach to its display. My goal was to utilize materials otherwise destined for the landfill. After much experimentation, I successfully mount my paintings on reclaimed corrugated plastic election signs or CD's. These materials are sturdy and long-lasting. As an added benefit, it is extremely lightweight." You can learn more about Melissa HERE.

Rachael Caskey is an intuitive, eclectic artist creating everything from mixed media to modern abstract art. She has a flair for color and texture in every piece. Her work intersects everyday life, nature and spirituality to foster a sense of mystery, love and connection. Rachael works primarily with acrylic paints on canvas. Her body of work consists of layers of acrylic paint and fine and vintage papers with strong bold paint strokes, a mélange of the natural with the mystical or supernatural that is coupled with an emphasis on contrasting values. Rachael’s paintings reflect her mood, natural and spiritual inspiration, personal thoughts, physical and mental struggles, and triumphs. Each painting is an intuitive process. Unless she is working on an art commission, most of her paintings flow naturally without a particular theme at the start, almost like a reflection of her nonlinear life experiences. Rachael notes “I love combining different art techniques to create something unique that transcends or combines the natural with the spiritual or supernatural. The process of creating itself is cathartic. It always has been a way to lose myself in the flow and allow the creation to speak for itself.” You can learn more about Rachael HERE