COMMISSIONED  PORTRAITS  IN  OIL

Krystii Melaine is passionate about art and life.  "I'm fascinated with the process of creating works of art inspired by the people I encounter on my life's journey.  To capture the personality and essence of an individual so well that others may know them through their portrait, is a challenge that inspires and fills my life."

Born in the Australian town of Bairnsdale, Victoria, Krystii Melaine spent much of her childhood quietly observing and sketching the people and animals around her. Announcing at the age of four that she was going to be an artist, Krystii won her first art competition at seven, with a portrait of a mermaid. By the age of fourteen she was selling paintings and accepting commissions.  Following University studies in painting, life drawing, graphic design and photography, Krystii established her own fashion design company in Adelaide, South Australia.  Nine years of creating elegant bridal and evening gowns, custom designed and fitted to each client, allowed her to gain a deep understanding of the human form, fabrics and draping, and how to make each woman look her best.  Krystii also created seasonal collections that were sold throughout Australia and New Zealand, and were shown at the top fashion events in Paris and London.

A burning desire to return to painting led Krystii to five years of traditional, European-style atelier study with renowned Australian master of tonal realism, Graham Moore. Painting only from life, she was immersed in the long realist tradition of portraiture and still life.  Her fascination with people and wildlife became the major inspirations for her paintings and Krystii is now recognised as one of Australia's and the USA's premier fine artists. 

Australian portrait commissions have included many highly ranked military officers.  Air Vice Marshall Sir Richard Williams, the "Father of the Australian Air Force" was commissioned by the Chief of Airforce.  Painted posthumously as he appeared in the 1930's, this portrait hangs in the Williams Theatre at the Australian Defence College in Canberra, the national capital.  It is the official portrait used by the Royal Australian Air Force.  Admiral Sir Anthony Synnot is a companion portrait commissioned by the Chief of Navy to honor the Admiral, and hangs in the Synnot Theatre at the Australian Defence College.

The Royal Australian Armoured Corps Memorial and Army Tank Museum at Puckapunyal, Victoria, commissioned Krystii to paint twelve portraits of noted members of the Corps over several years.  The collection hangs in its own dedicated portrait wing in the Museum. 

A trip to the USA in 1998 inspired a deep interest in the history and people of the American West.  Over the years Krystii has met cowboys, Native Americans, ranch owners and others who have allowed her to paint them as they are today and as their ancestors were throughout the rich history of the region.  The resulting portraits and Western themed paintings are highly sought after by collectors, garnering numerous awards and featuring in magazines.  Krystii's paintings are regularly selected to appear in major art museum exhibitions and galleries across North America.

Krystii has recently moved permanently with her husband, Michael, from Australia to Spokane, Washington.  Now that she is living in the USA full time, she is able to accept more portrait commissions here.  Krystii is highly skilled at capturing an accurate likeness along with the essence of each personality in a strong, painterly style.  Enjoying the process of working directly from life, the portrait emerges from her brush as the conversations between artist and subject forge a deeper, personal understanding of her client. Krystii is equally skilled at creating portraits from photos taken over an hour or two, as client and artist work together to establish the best concept for the portrait.  Posthumous portraits are also possible, although Krystii needs to see the available photographs to be sure a successful portrait will result before commencing such an emotional commission.

Awards for her portraiture have included The Alice Bale Award for Painting in Melbourne, Australia; Best of Show at Cowgirl Up! in the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Arizona; and Best of Show at Heart of the West in the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Texas.  An imposing portrait of a Native American warrior, titled War and Peace, hangs in the permanent collection of the Booth Western Art Museum in Georgia.  A portrait of Harrison Ford as Han Solo, surrounded by Ewoks, is in the George Lucas collection and features in the book Star Wars Art: Visions.  Krystii's wildlife, Western and figurative paintings have been exhibited in 42 Museums around the USA and in Australia.

Krystii brings together the traditional methods of the old masters, 20 years of portrait painting experience, and a deep understanding of people, to create the very best in fine art portraiture.

AWARDS

Honorable Mention, Portrait Society of America, Members Only Competition, January 2012
Western Award, Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art, Scottsdale AZ, April 2011
Merit Award, Masters of the American West, Los Angeles CA, February 2011
Best Of Show 2D, NatureWorks, Tulsa OK, March 2011
Best Of Show 2D, Cowgirl Up!, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, Arizona, March 2009
Best Of Show 2D, Heart of the West, National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Fort Worth, Texas, October 2008
Best Of Show, NatureWorks, Tulsa OK, March 2006
Painting Award, Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Cody, Wyoming, September 2004
Award of Merit, Bird, Arts For The Parks, September 2002
Best Of Show, NatureWorks, Tulsa OK, March 2002
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia October 2001 Highly Commended
Best Of Show, NatureWorks, Tulsa OK, March 2001
Eltham Wiregrass Gallery - Most Popular Exhibit July 2001
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Peoples Choice - Most Popular Exhibit- October 2000
Eltham Wiregrass Gallery - "Wild Friends" - Most Popular Exhibit July 2000
The Miniature Award, NatureWorks, Tulsa OK March 2000
Juror's Gold Star Award for Best Body of Work, NatureWorks, Tulsa OK March 2000
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Best Australian Native Wildlife 1999
Eltham Wiregrass Gallery - "Wild Friends" - Most Popular Exhibit 1999
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Runner Up - Best Exhibit 1998
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Highly Commended 1998
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Peoples Choice - Most Popular Artist 1998
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Peoples Choice - Most Popular Exhibit- second 1998
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Artists Choice - Most Popular Artist- second 1998
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Artists Choice - Most Popular Exhibit- second 1998
Eltham Wiregrass Gallery - "Animal Instincts" - Most Popular Exhibit 1998
Toorak College Art Exhibition - Best Oil 1997
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Best Oil 1997
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Peoples Choice - Most Popular Exhibit 1997
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Peoples Choice - Most Popular Artist 1997
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Artists Choice - Most Popular Exhibit 1997
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Artists Choice - Most Popular Artist 1997
Rotary Club of Camberwell - Highly Commended 1997
Rotary Club of Ivanhoe - Encouragement Award 1997
Alice Bale Art Award $30,000 Travelling Scholarship - Finalist 1997
Alice Bale Art Award for Oil - Finalist 1997
Alice Bale Art Award for Oil - Winner 1996
Rotary Club of Mt Waverley - Highly Commended 1996
Rotary Club of Camberwell - Encouragement Award 1996
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Artists Choice - Most Popular Artist 1996
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Highly Commended 1995
Alice Bale Art Award for Oil - Finalist 1995
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia - Geoff Douglas Award 1994
Rotary Club of Box Hill - Highly Commended 1993

GALLERIES

Legacy Gallery, 7178 Main Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 USA, 480-945-1113
Legacy Gallery, 75 North Cache, PO box 4977, Jackson, Wyoming 83001 USA, 307-733-2353
Mountain Trails Gallery, 301 Main St, Park City, Utah 84060 USA, 435-615-8748
Big Horn Galleries, 1167 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, Wyoming 82414 USA 307-527-7587
Big Horn Galleries, Tubac, Arizona USA
The Hayden Hays Galleries at The Broadmoor, 1 Lake Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado USA, 719-577-5744
Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, 55 Bridge St, Frenchtown, New Jersey 08825 USA, 1-888-996-6501

SELECT EXHIBITIONS

Masters of the American West, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, California
Quest for the West, Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, Indiana
Birds in Art, Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, and touring the USA
Cowgirl Up!, Desert Caballeros Museum, Wickenburg, Arizona
Small Works, Great Wonders, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City
Night of Artists, Briscoe Museum, San Antonio, Texas
Miniature Masterpieces, Phippen Museum, Prescott, Arizona
The Buffalo Bill Art Show, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming
Western Artists of America, Pearce Museum, Corsicana, Texas
The Russell, The C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, Montana

COMMISSIONS & CORPORATE COLLECTIONS

Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville, Georgia USA
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin USA
Bennington Center For The Arts, Bennington, Vermont, USA
Australian Defence College, Weston Creek, Australia
Chief of Navy, Canberra, Australia
Chief of Airforce, Canberra, Australia
RAAC Memorial & Army Tank Museum, Puckapunyal, Victoria
School of Armour, Puckapunyal, Victoria
1st Armoured Regiment, Darwin, Northern Territory
Officers Mess, 1st Armoured Regiment, Darwin, Northern Territory
Sergeants Mess, 1st Armoured Regiment, Darwin, Northern Territory
Peoples Government of Pingdu Province, China
Healesville Sanctuary, Healesville, Victoria
The George Lucas Collection, USA
The Corporate Teamwork Collection, Queensland, Australia

PUBLISHED WORKS

"Suddenly Still", "Keeping Watch", "Distant Challenge", "The Spectator", "Calling The Twilight" and "Close Call", Limited Edition Fine Art Prints
by Cattle Creek Publishing, Logan, Utah USA.
"Parrot Paradise", "Superb Parrots", "Koala", "To Sleep, Perchance to Dream", "On The Prowl" and "African Queen", Limited Edition Fine Art Prints, by Origin Publishing International, Brisbane, Queensland Australia, available from Krystii Melaine
"Any Shade Will Do", Limited Edition Fine Art Giclee, Edition sold out at publisher, Artist's Proofs available from Krystii Melaine.

"Star Wars Art - Visions", 2010, painting titled "Fur Balls" appears on pages 60-61, biography on page165
"Best of Worldwide Oil Artists - Volume I", Cover image and 2 page feature, 2010, by Kennedy Publishing, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA

Birds Australia Calendar, Address Book and Field Book, 2000
Healesville Sanctuary Poster Calendar 1999
RSPCA Calendar, 2008, 2007, 2006, 1999 and 1996
Cover design and illustrations for an ongoing series of technical books.
Illustrations for a variety of environmental books, brochures and signs.
A set of four Limited Edition Art Prints from graphite drawings, of military vehicles.
Greeting cards showing selected paintings.