Krystii Melaine is passionate about life and about art. "I'm fascinated by the appearance and behaviour of all living things, and by the process of expressing what I see in oil paint on canvas. Light, colour, and form inspire my work, and the subtle gestures of people and wildlife provide an endless source of new ideas to explore. To capture the essence of a wild creature or the personality of a friend and to share the wonders of life with others - this is what I live for!"

Born in the Australian town of Bairnsdale, Victoria, Krystii Melaine spent much of her childhood observing the wild birds and animals in the forests surrounding her home. Announcing at the age of four that she was going to be an artist, Krystii won her first art competition at seven. By the age of fourteen, she was selling paintings and accepting commissions. Following studies in painting, drawing, photography and graphic design, Krystii set up her own fashion design company, and in the following years she developed it into one of the largest bridal-wear companies in Australia. A large staff manufactured her seasonal collections which were sold to outlets around Australia and New Zealand, while exclusive designs were sold through her own retail store in Adelaide. Krystii's elegant, sculptural gowns were also shown in Paris and London.

A burning desire to return to painting led Krystii to five years of study in traditional tonal realism and the oil-painting techniques of the old masters with the renowned Australian artist, Graham Moore. Drawing on Moore's 80 years of artistic experience provided her with a strong background in portraiture, still life and landscape painting. Her passion for wildlife and fascination for people became the major inspirations for her paintings and Krystii is now recognised as one of Australia's premier fine artists. Her work is rapidly gaining recognition around the world, and is regularly exhibited in major art museums and world class exhibitions across North America.

Travelling widely in search of her favourite subjects, Krystii combines field observations with research to gain understanding of the wildlife she encounters. Regular travels to the American West and time spent with cowboy friends have led to her more recent exploration of the life of modern working cowboys. Through sketches and studies, her initial inspiration develops into a composition that expresses the visual and emotional impact of her experience with each creature or friend. Krystii develops her images with several layers of oil paint on canvas, absorbed by her subject and revelling in the paint itself. "I love the feel of oil paint, whether mixing intense colours or subtle tones, pushing around thick impasto or applying the thinnest of washes, laying down loose brushstrokes or fine details." Working in a realistic style, Krystii combines accurate details with a soft, slightly loose application of paint. Her bold compositions project the amazing power of life with strength and conviction.

Krystii also paints traditional portraits and still lifes using the methods of the old masters, where larger brushes and a direct approach portray the essence of the subject directly from life. Her skill in capturing an accurate likeness in a strong, painterly style has led to many official portraits for the Australian Army, Navy and Air Force, and commissions for museum collections, corporate and private clients around the world.

An impressive list of prestigious awards includes Best of Show 2D at Cowgirl Up! at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Arizona, Best of Show 2D at Heart of the West at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Texas, The Painting Award at the Buffalo Bill Art Show in Cody, Best of Show at NatureWorks in Oklahoma three times, The Award of Merit - Bird in Arts For The Parks, Wyoming, and many from the Wildlife Art Society of Australasia including Best Australian Native Wildlife Artist. She has also been voted most popular artist in numerous exhibitions. Exhibitions in the USA have included Masters of the American West at the Autry National Center, Cowgirl Up! at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Heart of the West at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Quest for the West at the Eiteljorg Museum, Night of Artists at the Briscoe Museum, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum's Birds in Art, The Society of Animal Artists' Art and the Animal, The Buffalo Bill Art Show, Arts For The Parks and major solo exhibitions.

The book Feather and Brush: Three Centuries of Australian Bird Art includes Krystii Melaine among the 34 major contemporary Australian bird artists featured. Articles about her work have appearing in international magazines including Southwest Art, Art of the West, Western Art Collector, Wildlife Art, U.S. Art and InformArt.

Krystii Melaine's brilliant and powerful oil paintings express the wonderful beauty and diversity of our natural world and of ourselves. Through her paintings, she hopes to inspire us to really appreciate all living things and to experience the world with the passion of an artist.

EXHIBITIONS

2010
"Masters of the American West", Autry National Center, Los Angeles, California USA
Krystii Melaine, Michael Dudash & Gayle Nason, The Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona USA
"American Miniatures", Settlers West, Tucson, Arizona USA
"Cowgirl Up!", Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, Arizona USA
"Night of Artists", Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio, Texas USA

2009
"Masters of the American West", Autry National Center, Los Angeles, California USA
Krystii Melaine & Michael Dudash, The Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona USA
"Cowgirl Up!", Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, Arizona USA
"Night of Artists", Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio, Texas USA
"Heart of the West", National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Fort Worth, Texas
May Auction, Texas Art Gallery, Dallas, Texas
Annual Open House, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Summer Show, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Summer Roundup, Big Horn Gallery, Cody, Wyoming USA
"Birds in Art", Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau Wisconsin USA
Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming USA
Fall Classic, Big Horn Gallery, Cody, Wyoming USA
Annual Wildlife & Sporting Art Show, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Fall Festival Gallery Exhibition, Horizon Fine Art Gallery, Jackson Wyoming USA
The Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Western Art Show, Tucson, Arizona USA
Merry Little Christmas Holiday Show, Big Horn Galleries, Cody, Wyoming & Tubac, Arizona USA
Holiday Small Works Show, Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona USA

2008
"Masters of the American West", Autry National Center, Los Angeles, California USA
Solo Exhibition, Mountain Trails Gallery, Park City, Utah USA
Natureworks, Tulsa, Oklahoma USA
"Cowgirl Up!", Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg Arizona USA
"Night of Artists", Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio, Texas USA
Annual Open House, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Summer Show, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Summer Roundup, Big Horn Gallery, Cody, Wyoming USA
"Birds in Art", Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau Wisconsin USA
"Wild & West", Solo Exhibition, Horizon Fine Art, Jackson, Wyoming USA
Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming USA
"Heart of the West", National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Fort Worth, Texas USA
Fall Classic, Big Horn Gallery, Cody, Wyoming USA
Annual Wildlife & Sporting Art Show, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
The Mountain Oyster Club Contemporary Western Art Show, Tucson, Arizona USA
May Auction, Texas Art Gallery, Dallas, Texas
November Auction, Texas Art Gallery, Dallas, Texas
Merry Little Christmas Holiday Show, Big Horn Galleries, Cody, Wyoming & Tubac, Arizona USA
Holiday Small Works Show, Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona USA

2007
"Masters of the American West", Autry National Center, Los Angeles, California USA
Solo Exhibition, Mountain Trails Gallery, Park City, Utah USA
Summer Show, Settlers West Galleries, Tucson, Arizona USA
Annual Open House, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Summer Show, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Summer Roundup, Big Horn Gallery, Cody, Wyoming USA
"Birds in Art", Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau Wisconsin USA
"Wild & West", Solo Exhibition, Horizon Fine Art, Jackson, Wyoming USA
Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming USA
Fall Classic, Big Horn Gallery, Cody, Wyoming USA
Annual Wildlife & Sporting Art Show, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Merry Little Christmas Holiday Show, Big Horn Galleries, Cody, Wyoming & Tubac, Arizona USA

2006
Solo Exhibition, Mountain Trails Gallery, Park City, Utah USA
Natureworks, Tulsa, Oklahoma USA
Annual Open House, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Summer Roundup, Big Horn Gallery, Cody, Wyoming USA
Quest for the West, Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, Indiana USA
"Wildlife & Western Life", Solo Exhibition, Horizon Fine Art, Jackson, Wyoming USA
Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming USA
Fall Classic, Big Horn Gallery, Cody, Wyoming USA
Small Works Exhibition, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Annual Wildlife & Sporting Art Show, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Krystii Melaine, Tom Gilleon & Allan Mardon, Borsini-Burr Galleries, Half Moon Bay, California USA
Christmas Exhibition, Horizon Fine Art Gallery, Jackson, Wyoming USA
Merry Little Christmas Holiday Show, Big Horn Galleries, Cody, Wyoming & Tubac, Arizona USA

2005
Solo Exhibition, Mountain Trails Gallery, Park City, Utah USA
Natureworks, Tulsa, Oklahoma USA
Annual Open House, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Solo Exhibition, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
"Wildlife, Still Life, Real Life", Solo Exhibition, Horizon Fine Art, Jackson, Wyoming USA
Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming USA
Fall Classic, Big Horn Gallery, Cody, Wyoming USA
Annual Wildlife & Sporting Art Show, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
"Art and the Animal", Society of Animal Artists, Nevada State Museum, USA
Merry Little Christmas Holiday Show, Big Horn Galleries, Cody ,Wyoming & Tubac, Arizona USA
A Small World, Horizon Fine Art Gallery, Jackson Wyoming USA

2004
Essence Of The Wild, Solo Exhibition, Horizon Fine Art, Jackson, Wyoming USA
Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming USA
"Birds in Art", Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin USA
"Art And The Animal", Society Of Animal Artists, touring USA
Wildlife Exhibition, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, Eltham Victoria Australia
South Eastern Wildlife Exposition, Charleston, South Carolina USA
Natureworks, Tulsa, Oklahoma USA *Encore Artist*
Annual Open House, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Annual Wildlife & Sporting Art Show, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Merry Little Christmas Holiday Show, Big Horn Galleries, Cody ,Wyoming & Tubac, Arizona USA
A Small World, Horizon Fine Art Gallery, Jackson Wyoming USA

2003
Essence Of The Wild, Solo Exhibition, Horizon Fine Art, Jackson, Wyoming USA
Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyoming USA
Alaska 2003: A Celebration of Wildlife Art, Kenai Visitors Center, Kenai, Alaska USA
Arts For The Parks, Jackson, Wyoming USA
Wildlife Exhibition, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, Eltham Victoria Australia
South Eastern Wildlife Exposition, Charleston, South Carolina USA
Natureworks, Tulsa, Oklahoma USA *Featured Artist*
Annual Open House, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Annual Wildlife & Sporting Art Show, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
A Small World, Horizon Fine Art Gallery, Jackson Wyoming USA

2002
"Birds in Art", Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin,
National Geographic Society "Art & The Animal" Washington DC USA
Fall Gathering, Horizon Fine Art Gallery, Jackson Wyoming USA
Arts For The Parks, Jackson, Wyoming USA
Wildlife Exhibition, Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, Eltham Victoria Australia
A Small World, Horizon Fine Art Gallery, Jackson Wyoming, USA
South Eastern Wildlife Exposition, Charleston, South Carolina USA
Natureworks, Tulsa, Oklahoma USA
Annual Open House, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA
Annual Wildlife & Sporting Art Show, Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, Frenchtown, New Jersey USA

2001
"Birds in Art", Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, and touring the USA.
"Art And The Animal", Society Of Animal Artists, Arizona & touring USA
South Eastern Wildlife Exposition, Charleston, South Carolina USA
Natureworks, Tulsa, Oklahoma USA
"Passion to Protect" - Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, Eltham, Victoria.
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia Annual Exhibition, Melbourne, Victoria.

2000
"Birds in Art", Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin, USA.
"Art And The Animal", Society Of Animal Artists, Sturgeon Bay, Michigan and touring the USA
South Eastern Wildlife Exposition, Charleston, South Carolina USA
Natureworks, Tulsa, Oklahoma USA
Florida Wildlife and Western Art Expo, Lakeland Florida USA
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia Annual Exhibition, Melbourne, Victoria.
"A Window on Nature & Spirit" - The Wise Possum Gallery, Sassafras, Victoria
Annual Wildlife Art Exhibition - Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, Eltham, Victoria.

1999
"Birds in Art" - Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, Wisconsin USA
"Art and the Animal" - Society of Animal Artists, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Ohio, USA
"A Walk on the Wildside 3" - Kerry Anne's Akoonah Park Gallery, Berwick, Vic.
"Wild Friends" - Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, Eltham, Vic.
Wildlife Art Exhibition - Gull Cottage, Brisbane, Queensland.
"Nature's Amazing Tapestry" - The Wise Possum Gallery, Sassafras, Vic.
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia Inc. Annual Exhibition, Melbourne Vic.
Camberwell Art Show, Camberwell, Vic.

1998
Solo Exhibition - Kerry Anne's Akoonah Park Gallery, Berwick, Vic.
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia Inc Annual Exhibition
"A Walk on the Wild Side 2" Kerry-Anne's Akoonah Park Gallery, Berwick, Vic.
"Animal Instincts" - Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, Eltham, Vic.
Wildlife Art Exhibition - Gull Cottage, Brisbane, Queensland.
Camberwell Art Show, Camberwell, Vic.

1997
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia Inc Annual Exhibition
Wildlife Exhibition - The Wise Possum Nature Shop, Montrose, Vic.
Alice Bale Art Award, Caulfield Arts Complex, Vic.
"A Walk on the Wild Side" Kerry-Anne's Akoonah Park Gallery, Berwick, Vic.
"Feathers & Fur" - Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, Eltham, Vic.
"Mainly Miniatures" - Kerry-Anne's Akoonah Park Gallery, Berwick, Vic.
"Spring & Wildlife" - Kerry-Anne's Akoonah Park Gallery, Berwick, Vic.
Wildlife Exhibition - The Wise Possum Nature Shop & Gallery - Sassafras, Vic.
Rotary Club of Waverley, Box Hill, Vic - Guest Artist

1996
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia Inc Annual Exhibition
Queensland Wildlife Art Society Annual Exhibition
Wildlife Art Exhibition - Gull Cottage, Brisbane, Queensland.
Wildlife Art Exhibition - Australian Wildlife Art Galleries, Munro, Vic.
Alice Bale Art Award - Caulfield Arts Complex , Vic.
Comet Hill Wildlife Art Exhibition, Bendigo, Vic.
Healesville Gateway Festival, Healesville, Vic.
"A Window On Wildlife" - Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, Eltham, Vic.
"Birds" - Boyd Fine Art Gallery, Sydney, NSW.
"Just Horses" - Akoonah Park Gallery, Berwick, Vic.
"Wood 'n Wild" Highway Gallery, Mount Waverley, Vic.
Camberwell Art Show

1995
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia Inc Annual Exhibition
Alice Bale Art Award - Caulfield Arts Complex, Vic.
"A Window On Wildlife" - Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, Eltham Vic.
"Little Classics" - Willowbank Gallery, Taggerty, Vic.
"Just Horses" - Akoonah Park Gallery, Berwick, Vic.
"Spring & Wildlife" - Akoonah Park Gallery, Berwick, Vic.
"Krystii Melaine & Ron Muller" - The Valley Gallery, Steeles Creek, Vic.
Wildlife Exhibition - Campaspe Gallery, Carlsruhe, Vic.
Camberwell Art Show

1994
Wildlife Art Society of Australasia Inc Annual Exhibition
"Animal Farm Revisited" - Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, Eltham Vic.
"Views of the Yarra Valley" - The Valley Gallery, Steeles Creek, Vic.
Channel 7 Talk to the Animals Expo, Caulfield Racecourse, Vic.
Healesville Gateway Festival, Healesville, Vic.
Camberwell Art Show

AWARDS

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
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

Horizon Fine Art Gallery, 165 N. Center St, PO Box 4920, Jackson, Wyoming 83001 USA
Decoys & Wildlife Gallery, 55 Bridge St, Frenchtown, New Jersey 08825 USA
Mountain Trails Gallery, 301 Main St, Park City, Utah 84060 USA
Big Horn Galleries, 1167 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, Wyoming 82414, and Tubac, Arizona USA
J.WillottGallery, 73190 El Paseo, Suite 1, Palm Desert, California 92260, USA
Legacy Gallery, 7178 Main Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85251 USA, Phone 480-945-1113
Scissortail Gallery, 11230 North Garnett, Suite A. Owasso, Oklahoma 74055 USA, Phone 918-371-7278

PUBLISHED WORKS

"Suddenly Still", "Keeping Watch", "Distant Challenge", "The Spectator", "Calling The Twilight" and "Close Call", Limited Edition 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 Art Prints, by Origin Publishing International, Brisbane, Queensland.
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.

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 Command & Staff 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
Corporate Teamwork, Perth, Western Australia
Peoples Government of Pingdu Province, China
Healesville Sanctuary, Healesville, Victoria