https://www.melissaselcow.com/recent-work daily 0.75 2024-07-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1759104532242-ADEW6EAUSKO3B3IOUEEK/Brindle%2BCow.jpg Recent Works Brindle Cow 28" x 34" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1720615244174-6MVFJYE5OBNPWR2OAAX1/IMG_6236.jpg Recent Works Sentient Sage 24" x 20" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/b5584663-8fb7-4009-be72-2f868924e970/Carravaggio+Ram.jpg Recent Works Ram (Ode to Caravaggio) 20" x 30" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1720616359391-7247JP4RWI9HNWZRL8CV/IMG_6461.jpg Recent Works Turkeys 24" x 18" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596820522575-YG42XTL67FO5SKNM9RKM/Lion+Final.jpeg Recent Works Circus Lion circa 1947 36” x 48” View in Home Setting A favorite photo of mine is a 9” X 12” black and white photo that my grandmother’s second husband, a photographer, took inside the lion’s cage of the Ringling Circus in 1947. I wanted to capture its magnificence as the ‘king of beasts’. I also wanted to honor the magical Ringling Circus that wintered in Sarasota, Florida where my family is from. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1720617121011-0N4Q3J3NXVI5HLL5GWF2/IMG_4343%255B28986%255D.jpg Recent Works Bison 48" x 60" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1752417897516-YZFJZECZFGSLJL8IEO0A/redleashfrenchbulldog.jpg Recent Works Red Leash 24" x 26" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595981465374-UOXJH6EMPATJU83O1MNF/cows_selcow.jpg Recent Works Joy and Rosebud 48” x 60” View in Home Setting Joy and her look-a-like daughter, Rosebud, were my pet black angus cows on my grandmother’s farm in Florida. Joy became the brood mare of the herd. She was incredibly intelligent. We would hand feed them melon, mango, banana peels, bread and feed cubes. My grandmother had the tips of Joy’s horns cut off because she would toss her head at the feed trough to keep other cows from crowding in but potentially injuring them. In the source photo that I took, the tips of her horns are missing. I painted her horns intact. She deserved it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1720615558204-U7A4XK9ZLWIEJGLH415L/IMG_4737.jpg Recent Works Rabbits 30" x 40" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1720615924353-U7F6D3137GLJXIET2BUM/IMG_5603.jpg Recent Works Sherbert Flamingos 36" x 36" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595361493554-5NRRKCXYKLGVKVL1KPXT/2+Lions.jpg Recent Works Bronx Zoo Lions 48” x 60” View in Home Setting My inspiration for ‘Bronx Zoo Lions’ came from visiting the Eugene Delacroix retrospective at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2018. The scale and beauty of Delacroix’s ‘Tiger Cub Playing with Its Mother’ and ‘Lion Hunt’ instilled in me the desire to create my own work of big cats. ‘Bronx Zoo Lions’ is a tribute to the ‘king of beasts’ and a nod to Romanticism in painting. The source material is an 11 x 17 inches photograph I took at the Bronx Zoo in the Spring of 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1720616546052-876QRBUR9BBA0QALX1M5/Ram.jpg Recent Works Ram 36" x 48" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1720615687695-25VIIEOJ0R02YGNET1W7/Lets%2BPlay%2BDog.jpg Recent Works Let's Play 24" x 36" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1720615752820-1QWBO4EYWH5ZTBWPN590/IMG_0506.jpg Recent Works Wool Over Their Eyes 30" x 40" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1720615439156-OQQSY352TYBB7N3W35B9/IMG_4724.jpg Recent Works Escape Artist 24" x 36" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1720615834708-OZDOGNL4B1U4ZD1ZK824/IMG_4803.jpg Recent Works Slippery Slope 24" x 30" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1720616658831-6LKZV4IKDCAUVSTJLYBK/IMG_2426%255B28984%255D.jpg Recent Works Mandrills 46" x 60" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1720616834259-O3RKB2QFWJN54CWHS6V0/IMG_2843%255B28982%255D.jpg Recent Works Everglades 48" x 60" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595956738273-QG9GNQPLNBOIQR5BIIDT/IMG_4382.JPG Recent Works Grandma’s Herd 24” x 30” View in Home Setting Our favorite cows from the 1970’s to 2017 are represented in this painting. The live oak tree is the star of the painting, however. It was felled by the 1921 hurricane in Sarasota but lived on growing sideways. The cows enjoyed the cool shade it provided. My sister and I enjoyed climbing it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595361518015-3U7REIKOGYOLF2F1067W/Koala+Bear.jpg Recent Works Koala Bear 36” x 36” View in Home Setting Philanthropic friends of mine support koala bear conservation at the Miami Zoo. They shared with me photos of a koala named after the patron. One image stood out which I thought would be resplendent depicted on a large canvas nestled in stylized Eucalyptus leaves. https://www.melissaselcow.com/still-life daily 0.75 2020-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595361755656-K1CF3686UGKMHPADJSC3/burger.jpg Still Life Cheeseburger with Crinkle Fries 36” x 36“ Since I began painting I promised my husband I would create something for him. Christmas was coming so I decided to surprise him with a painting of his favorite meal—a bacon cheeseburger with fries. I chose to paint crinkle fries because they are more amusing visually. I especially enjoyed including and painting the lone crescent-shaped fry. It’s the fry that would be left on the plate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595361782325-FQ070NHPBKBFVQIW6PP8/drink1.jpg Still Life I’ll Take a Manhattan 28” x 36" My paternal grandfather’s liquor of choice was bourbon. At restaurants he would order a Manhattan. As a little girl I was intrigued with the cocktail because it came with a Maraschino cherry, just like my Shirley Temples. I created this painting in color tones of the ‘40s as a visual ode to my grandfather. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595361807608-GJGUBEP9R76AS0DXG363/Cake.jpg Still Life Cake 30” x 36” I love meringue. And I wanted to capture its devilish peaks and valleys along with the vibrant green glass of the cake stand. After I completed the painting, I baked the cake and brought it into the studio to share with my fellow artists. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595361839195-6J1YVNZ7RW4A0FO0U72S/Lemon%2BTwist.jpeg Still Life Lemon Twist 20” x 24” This painting was a commission by a fellow artist as a surprise birthday present for her partner. She brought him to see my ‘I’ll Take a Manhattan’ painting to gage his interest before moving forward with the commission. As we were talking in front of the painting, I casually mentioned that I knew he liked martinis and wondered if he preferred his martinis “dirty”, with “three olives” or “pearl onions”. His reply, “Lemon twist!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595361868758-QKPID17PQ9BFRJCHXLLO/Sweet%2BSpot.jpeg Still Life Sweet Spot 36” x 36” This painting was my very first commission. I was honored that this patron of the arts had confidence in me to create a painting for her husband’s birthday. Her son is a very talented baseball pitcher and her husband is an avid baseball fan. She lent me used baseballs as my models. What I particularly like about this painting is the real leather ‘look’ of the baseball because of the drying effect of the lead-white paint and medium mixture. The label-free bare spot on a baseball is known as the “Sweet Spot”. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595361905145-GI0YSZ96KYO8OO2R92OM/flowers.jpg Still Life Roses-the Power of Red 36” x 36” I bought a bouquet of red roses for my dining room table. The southern light was creating beautiful highlights on the petals. I commented to my son how beautiful I found the red petals to be along with the prism created on the table through the vase and silver trivet. “That should be your next painting!” he chimed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596129518518-8YBGB885MAI294PSATNY/Lollipops.png Still Life Lollipops 18” x 36” Capturing the look of cellophane in a painting was the challenge that I set out to conquer with painting my favorite lollipops. It didn’t hurt that I could eat the models when I was through. https://www.melissaselcow.com/works-on-paper daily 0.75 2020-08-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595362411312-M2MSGXY8HSN3PBRV0QSR/drawing1.jpg Works on Paper Breasts 24” x 36” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595362411900-SHO4DJYD6UFX17ZRHF8J/drawing2.jpg Works on Paper Rhinoceros 12" x 15" (AMNH taxidermy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595362411715-HQHHUOA0TSJJCINN916D/drawing3.jpg Works on Paper Egret 8” x 12” (AMNH taxidermy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596644126623-PSRDV4XPKJQ9JWY0ZAU6/IMG_1674.jpg Works on Paper Crocodile 20” x 14” (AMNH taxidermy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596644128343-ZXTKUVR84CAYNAF3W8FH/IMG_1667.jpg Works on Paper Giant Kudu 9” x 12” (AMNH taxidermy) https://www.melissaselcow.com/portraiture daily 0.75 2020-07-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595362133403-8ZTL483Z1RH8OH2NJO21/portrait3.jpg One-week Portraiture Byzantine Icon 20” x 30” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595362129585-XMTKYUYPVX3G4VLBZO7A/Reeses.jpg One-week Portraiture Reese’s 20” x 24” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596129029328-5BQW6BLVCRFMCN06RLR4/Two-Nudes.png One-week Portraiture Two Nudes 24” x 30” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595362130551-2F2PXWKB6SFDEZZY5YO2/man.jpg One-week Portraiture Say it with Stripes 30” x 36” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595362126675-N7S8U36W5H5E6W7W7UPB/portrait1.jpg One-week Portraiture Bad Mama Jama 30” x 36” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595362130843-T4RZMY9OA75386QENV6A/portrait2.jpg One-week Portraiture David 30” x 36” https://www.melissaselcow.com/artist-statement daily 0.75 2025-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596127126387-6YC4TIUV3D84NQZK8BFH/Melissa.jpg Artist Statement https://www.melissaselcow.com/contact daily 0.75 2020-08-18 https://www.melissaselcow.com/viewing daily 0.75 2020-06-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1592518375353-AMMIZFJGVVNQQVYKN7FC/mselcow_mockup1_cows.jpg View Works in Home Setting Joy and Rosebud 48” x 60" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1592518319282-QG04U3J8EDGIJ86Z6RBA/mselcow_mockup2_lion.jpg View Works in Home Setting Circus Lion circa 1947 36” x 48” https://www.melissaselcow.com/viewing-room-one daily 0.75 2020-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1592519102235-AMF8MS5A36RIYH8D65YR/mselcow_mockup1_cows.jpg Viewing Room One https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1592519101932-4DG1E9WFXFEUC1KTZT36/mselcow_mockup1_lion.jpg Viewing Room One https://www.melissaselcow.com/viewing-room-two daily 0.75 2020-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1592519447400-94O9Y891YT48C8AFLML7/mselcow_mockup2_cows.jpg Viewing Room Two https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1592519447125-4AC13IEJ0GKGJPRPHOZQ/mselcow_mockup2_lion.jpg Viewing Room Two https://www.melissaselcow.com/joy-and-rosebud-home-setting daily 0.75 2020-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1592519447400-94O9Y891YT48C8AFLML7/mselcow_mockup2_cows.jpg Joy and Rosebud - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1594241431482-136VC8G77GWO5MQVGZHL/mselcow_mockup6_cows.jpg Joy and Rosebud - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1594241431814-QIPBBG5DCTQHANY3JYK8/mselcow_mockup5_cows.jpg Joy and Rosebud - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1594241682470-H4CJ4NW59JSQRH828BTU/mselcow_mockup4_cows.jpg Joy and Rosebud - Home Setting https://www.melissaselcow.com/home-old daily 0.75 2020-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595956418649-P8IG3H9IX9A05ZAM2AIF/Lion Home-old https://www.melissaselcow.com/circus-lion-circa-1947-home-setting daily 0.75 2020-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596821371342-9DV8U188TXMK4XDY9ZGU/LionMockup1.jpg Circus Lion circa 1947 - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596821369691-Z44U89JAUGCKOQPOLBQ0/LionMockup2.jpg Circus Lion circa 1947 - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596821371062-D6779OLPLHB10LYPDJOZ/LionMockup3.jpg Circus Lion circa 1947 - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596821368613-0DXEP8BJ0ZSZAX6GLU7C/LionMockup4.jpg Circus Lion circa 1947 - Home Setting https://www.melissaselcow.com/bronx-zoo-lions-home-setting daily 0.75 2020-07-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596146957787-KTGMN7R0844RDPBK4VBA/mselcow_mockup2_2lions.jpg Bronx Zoo Lions - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596147000143-WNOWIRZ0M0BL4W3LPYNQ/mselcow_mockup6_2lions.jpg Bronx Zoo Lions - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596146995961-3XZ6PFF1JOIM1NS09MOO/mselcow_mockup5_2lions.jpg Bronx Zoo Lions - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596146983165-EIPR94YCM2EVDQ1HITT0/mselcow_mockup4_2lions.jpg Bronx Zoo Lions - Home Setting https://www.melissaselcow.com/koala-home-setting daily 0.75 2020-07-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596147375797-FPUSBPUF2AABGWP3O056/mselcow_mockup2_koala.jpg Koala Bear - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596147400954-DFDG2WNK3KUIG51TEXTX/mselcow_mockup6_koala.jpg Koala Bear - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596147388521-AWFTFLM1CJHKBMHLYU0T/mselcow_mockup5_koala.jpg Koala Bear - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596147394606-7JHH2NHNAK309O7A77ZH/mselcow_mockup4_koala.jpg Koala Bear - Home Setting https://www.melissaselcow.com/grandmas-herd-home-setting daily 0.75 2020-07-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596147525111-5PF83NHZBLK06592BSY7/mselcow_mockup2_grandma.jpg Grandma's Herd - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596147557402-2UIJRV1N9B4QNG6ITNST/mselcow_mockup6_grandma.jpg Grandma's Herd - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596147553524-P1I36FVD8N7JAI18HNQ5/mselcow_mockup5_grandma.jpg Grandma's Herd - Home Setting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1596147546290-Q3O7NSRSXB26CN6WPURE/mselcow_mockup4_grandma.jpg Grandma's Herd - Home Setting https://www.melissaselcow.com/home daily 1.0 2020-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ede9440515c3f612ec74e0c/1595956418649-P8IG3H9IX9A05ZAM2AIF/Lion Home