Paul Mellender

We had met for but a brief moment, a decade or so ago, and in our brevity shared polite chatter and conversation of art song which continued on and off since. I was captivated and intrigued by this man, what made him tick, his work, and why this creative genius stationed himself in this small city of Reno, Nevada of all places. For instead, I envisioned him sitting in a 500-year-old studio set within stone walls covered with ancient cracked stucco burdening under stout wood beams in an Italian villa with paint brush or pencil in hand, serving as a proctor to one or three prodigies of our time. As the years passed and with every piece he submitted online, I stood aside myself in awe as did all that laid eyes on his masterpieces. I asked for an interview and he agreed. It is my honor to introduce Paul Mellender.

Did you study art/painting/drawing?
Yes I did, but not formally. I grew up in a household where art was environmental. My Mom is a painter and my Dad a photographer and musician. There were always resources around – materials, books, conversations – I just watched and participated. I started studying in a concerted manner when I found my superhero drawings didn’t seem or feel right. So, I started studying anatomy from the books we had around the house (I think a book based on Paul Richer’s Artistic Anatomy). I should mention at about the age of 3 I became a bit obsessive about drawing and art and would draw any free moment I had – for several hours a day. I didn’t study for art’s sake though, I quickly found it was more of a door or window for passage to experiences out of my reach. The impulse was to become other, heroic beings, going to places, and facing the extraordinary with competence. Studying the “how to” was just making sure the window glass was clean and clear or the doorway open enough. This trying to experience clearly is still a major obstacle and I doubt I’ll fully resolve it.

Who or what is your inspiration and why? Did you have mentors? Do you mentor?
I’m not sure about inspirations. Several things inspire me to different aspects of art. I’ve never found a person to be my inspiration, exactly, or in the Romantic sense portrayed in fiction. Art has some unpleasant aspects and side effects that don’t seem very friendly to inflict on a loved one. An idea that I’ve come across is “why don’t you draw this person or that person” often referring to loved ones who “won’t be here forever”. Art is imperfect in manifesting, and I’d much rather spend my time living with these loved ones or being with them than creating ghosts or shadows of them. That is something that inspires me with art: chasing what is out of reach or impossible…and yet I can still have a part. The Greeks referred to the “Extraordinary experience” when discussion the Mystery rites at Eleusis. Rites or Ritual have a common root word with art (Aritus- likewise Artimos- number). Peeking into other worlds and possibilities inspires me. Maybe this indicates immaturity as it is very much the same as my initial impulses with drawing.

I didn’t really have mentors. As I mentioned my parents are artists but they never mentored me, it was our way of living, so there was no focus or training, and likewise no need to break down misconceptions involved with the “Great Endeavor”. I was provided a great deal of encouragement at home, and any materials and time I may need, but not really mentorship. In school I ran into adversarial relationships with art teachers (though my teachers in other disciplines were universally encouraging about my art.) As an adult, I have made many friends with artists and the free trade and sharing between us is always a good time.

I do mentor and teach. In the last couple of years I have done courses, sessions and provided mentorship with Cave Academy, The Rookies and Linknetic (usually for film and video game artists) and privately I’ll take on a mentee when I see they may need some help, career advice, or I’ve seen they have met up with one of the many con games that infiltrate the arts. I am mentoring a bit less, presently. I hope I don’t sound obnoxious with this, but I am often asked to help the mentee find jobs, specifically. This is discouraging as they are often asking how to get an industry job, with little interest in art, though art is the key to their potential careers. It is disappointing and creates a feeling of isolation I would just as soon forgo. 

What is your favorite medium to use in your pieces?
Without question: Pencil and paper. I enjoy painting, and I enjoy CGI…but pencils are the best.

What advice would you give to young artists just starting out? What advice would you give to a seasoned artist?
This may be a trick question.  Young artists starting out means a few different things to me.  Many of the artists I know started as very small children and they seemed to be compelled (often through similar reasoning to my own, mentioned above).  I would warn them about some things if I could…

To starting artists in the sense of people who have decided to “become” artists as a career or an identity, I would have many warnings and advice. First would be a difficult but disillusioning conversation to warn them about the bill of goods they have been sold. Popular ideas of art, even institutional dogmas and certificates may need to be placed aside. Art is not the Romantic notion that is discussed. Art has rough edges; it will diminish you as much as it will give you (everything is a poison in the right dose). That said, there are extraordinary things you get to see. A warning and lure would be: at a certain point in your development, art changes you and you can’t turn back. You will be in a different world, and you can’t go back to the one you left. In new ways you’ll be isolated, and that can’t be repaired. For seasoned artists it would be: Try harder, you one trick pony! Stop resting on your laurels! And stop giving bad advice! It’s not about you! Oh…sorry…sorry…I can be critical of my peers at times.

What is your daily routine?
Well…I start out checking my email and calendar to arrange projects, deadlines, and meetings. Then I draw to warm up for a bit. I work out for 90 min to 2 hours to get the blood flowing and change the chemicals in my brain…that and because working out is extremely tedious, I can start to do my work and problem solve in my mind before I pick up the tools for the actual projects. Then I work until I notice my perceptions get abstracted.  

What is your favorite piece of work that you have created?
I don’t have a favorite piece. I’m always hoping the next one is good.

What is your favorite piece created by someone else?
You know…though I am a visual artist my favorite art forms are music and poetry. I’m a bit too “back stage” for visual art. So… Dead Can Dance’s 1987 Album Within the Realm of a Dying Sun.

Who is your favorite artist of all time?
I don’t really have one, anymore. I used to. Having a favorite artist might be tricky. Every artist has their time when they shine, and then they don’t, sadly. Artists as individuals are unreliable standards.

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be and why?
Let me think about this…
If you could travel in time, when would it be and why?
Let me look into my “Encyclopedia of Regrets and Remorse” journal and check the priority list. How much time in Time do I get? I’m going to save a fortune by not buying Hallmark, “I’m very sorry about that” cards.

If you could meet anyone from anywhere in any period of time, who would it be?
That strikes me as a very sad question. It points out what is out of reach. The people I can meet, have met and will meet are real, past or potential. But the people I can’t meet in time but would, the impossible company, points out voids I intentionally overlook. Wait! Sorry! I’m changing my answer to Santa!

Take a gander at his work at https://www.paulmellender.com/, it truly is a gallery of wonder.

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And remember, express yourself in any way that brings you joy and relief and share it with the world. You don’t owe it to anyone but yourself. Happy graphics, my friend.

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