About
Melissa is an award-winning artist who has an extensive exhibition history and has work in many private collections. She has a background in many disciplines with focus on drawing, painting (acrylic and watercolor), and printmaking. Her work has evolved to incorporate aspects of these approaches together.
Melissa also has a passion for teaching and has been a teacher in one form or another for 30 years. She has taught all ages in many different settings. Melissa is skilled at guiding students to build on basic skills and also identifying their own passions. Her teaching style is based on positive reinforcement and encouragement combined with honest feedback in an empathetic manner. She believes in developing good foundation skills which allows her students to grow into their own visions.
Melissa has been a resident artist at The Banana Factory Arts Center in Bethlehem, PA since 2013.
To learn more about her and her work, visit her website at http://www.melissaperhamusart.com/
You can also find her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MelissaPerhamusArt/
B.A. - Studio Art, SUNY Potsdam
All clearances are current.
I enjoy helping people discover their abilities. I love watching my students grow and feel proud of what they accompish. It is very rewarding for me to provide insight and share the knowledge that I have gained.
So many times I hear how people have been discouraged from drawing or painting due to harsh critism from either teachers or friends or parents which has resulted in a fear of pursuing it more. We don't all need to become experts or professsionals to benefit from drawing and painting. I pride myself on providing a place where students feel they are getting compassionate encouragement with honest guidance and feedback so they can grow.
Reviews
Barbara
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I begin with a conversation to learn what their goals are and discuss a plan to reach that goal. We together determine if private or group lessons would work best for them with their learning style and goals.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a B.A. in studio art with courses in art education from the State University of New York at Potsdam. I have had a working studio for 20+ years where I create and teach.
I teach all ages in many types of settings, including private adult and children's lessons, group lessons, children's afterschool art programs, scouting badges, community run activity nights, etc.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching 30 years ago while in college when I completed teaching courses designed for art majors. When my children were young, I worked with groups they were involved with. I also coach volleyball. I come from generations of teachers, so teaching is natural and part of me.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with both students whose goal is to develop their painting for personal growth purposes and students who want to develop a portfolio in order to get into art school. As well as, young students who enjoy making art.
We are all students of one form or another and I am rewarded with the teaching process and working with any student who spends time creating.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
How many years have you been teaching?
What is your approach to teaching? Do you teach traditional tequniques? Do you teach color theory? Do you teach specific lessons or do you help students create paintings based on what they want? Do you feel that drawing is an important skill? How often do you meet? How often do I pay?
I believe learning the basics gives students a good foundation regardless if they want to explore realism, abstraction or non-traditional methods. My personal work is currently on the surrealism side, but my traditional training is paramount to it.