From an early age, Melanie showed a passion for art, often drawing with crayons in elementary school despite occasional objections from teachers. Raised by a single mother who was a school teacher, she admired her mother's resilience and dedication to hard work. Gifted with a set of oil paints at age 10, Melanie's journey in art began, leading to her winning Best of Show awards in high school competitions.

After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising and Graphic Design from Louisiana Tech University, Melanie initially pursued a career in graphic design, which lasted for 25 years with clients including Neiman Marcus and Southwest Airlines. Despite the success, economic changes in 2008 led her to transition to teaching painting classes and becoming a Certified Educator for Golden Artist Colors.

Melanie's artwork has been recognized in national competitions, and she has held six solo exhibitions in Dallas over the past four years. Residing in Dallas, she cherishes her at-home studio, which was featured in an article on Houzz's 'Top 20 Most Creative Spaces.' In her free time, she enjoys cooking around campfires with friends and exploring the trails of Santa Fe's Galisteo Basin, a place rich with memories of her mother.