Portraits - Landscapes - Commissions

My passion is to paint realistic portraits and serene landscapes in various media.  If you love my style, I would be honored to create a piece uniquely for you.  Prices generally range from $100 to $500 depending on size and complexity, but the small pastels are less. Landscapes that are available for sale are denoted next to their title. You may contact me through this site if you are interested in buying or commissioning, or text 314-229-4940 or email melaniepriest@yahoo.com

I have a degree in Art Education from West Virginia University but would much rather create art than to teach it. I have done commissioned art pieces for many years, but largely put aside my art while raising a family which consists now of husband, four adult children and five grandchildren. In 2017 I made the choice to clear my schedule of other pursuits and concentrate on painting.  I have displayed work in juried and non-juried shows in the St. Louis area including the Foundry, Missouri Artists on Main,  Framations, St Peters Cultural Arts Center,  Northside Art Association and St Louis Area Art Club. I have received a number of honors and twice earned Best of Show at the Hazelwood Art Fair.  In 2024 I was named Artist of the Year at the St Louis Area Art Club.

Inspiration for my work comes from the beauty that God put all around us in nature. I am often awed and sometimes even distracted by seeing the softness of a cloud, the way the light hits a tree, the colors of a sunset, etc., and hope to reflect these wonders in my work. I consider myself to be learning and improving with each painting. I am delighted when a person commissions me to paint a portrait of a loved one or pet, or a landscape from their own personal photos.