Title: On VaCOWtion Location: Crown Center Artist: Melissa Ingram Sponsor: Color Mark Printing Company “On VaCOWtion” shows a swimsuit-clad cow on a beach towel strewn with shells, sand shovel, toy ball and books. “My approach was similar to how I paint abstract forms on canvas, namely, spontaneous and intuitive placement of colors and shapes,” says Melissa Ingram, artist. The swimsuit uses various acrylic colors outlined with silver fabric topped with colored stones, suggesting freedom and playfulness. The cow’s “fur” is done in layers of metallic paints. Her hat is constructed of straw, cardboard, fiberglass fabric and resin. Her towel is a real towel hardened with fiberglass fabric and resin. Her hooves are painted with nail polish. “My work is inspired by colors and images that float into my mind or dance across the canvas. For this project I looked for images associated with fun vacations. I believe we underestimate the stress to our bodies, minds and souls created by our hectic lives. Beach vacations have the power to restore us to our most colorful, most joyful selves full of possibilities. My cow “On VaCOWtion” is moved by Mary Oliver’s wonderful poem, The Sun, tickled by Gary Larson’s cartoons and made real again by sounds of the Ocean.”				Send a Postcard

To the Gallery