Artist: Melanie Nuccio

Media: Canvas, Paint

Gallery: LBSU School of Art, Dutzi Gallery

How do you define art? Everyone defines art differently, so in an attempt to gain a better understanding of art and all of its complexities, I got to talking with an art Student at Cal State University of Long Beach. The diversity at CSULB is amazing, so it was interesting to see how all of the different cultures, beliefs, and perspectives in the art galleries. One eye-catching piece was crated by Melanie Nuccio. Melanie Nuccio is a student in the School of Arts, Drawing and Painting Program. Nuccio continues to grow as an artist and says that since joining the Arts Program at Cal State Long Beach, all aspects of her art skills have grown. When asked what she liked best about being in school, she said that she loves the friendly competition that she has with all of her classmates and appreciates that they push each other to be better artists.

Nuccio’s painting on canvas was large and had lots of vibrant, primary colors mixed with some neutral pastel colors. The lines were clear, yet blended so well that they came together nicely. The colors of the background seem to almost blend and mesh perfectly with the plants and leaves. It is interesting to see how large the plants are compared to the scale of the house and the woman, it almost goes to show how large, beautiful, and untamable nature is.

While I spoke with Melanie, she explained that her art describes narratives about her personal experiences. As you can see, her piece showed the complexities and interconnectedness between humans and nature. It’s interesting to hear her thoughts on her work and hear the message she was trying to portray because I didn’t initially know that was what she was trying to portray, so as she began to explain it to me, the layers of her work unfolded.

It was interesting to talk to Melanie because she was a very kind person who was excited to share her art and views with others. When I first walked into the gallery, her work was the first that caught my eye. The bright colors and the rhythm of her paintings caught my attention and made me pay attention to its details. I thought the painting was beautiful because it showed the beauty of nature and life. With subtle pops of color, the painting just resonates so well with me because it reminds me how perfectly beautiful life is.