Hello, thank you for visiting my little website!

I'm an independent Australian Artist named Melanie Appleyard. I go by the name Mellow with my artwork - a nickname that friends and loved ones call me! I'm a self-taught abstract artist and have painted as a hobby ever since I was a little girl. It's always been something that I enjoy and it makes me feel calm.

I paint by experimentation, and continue to add layers until I feel like the artwork is finished. Each art piece has many layers... Sometimes there are as many as 30 layers to a final painting, it can take weeks for me to complete each one, slow and steady is my pace. My artwork is often inspired by things that I see outdoors in nature. I also draw inspiration through the feelings that I get from the music that I listen to as I paint - which is often quite calming. I am a Day Spa Manager and trained yoga teacher, so I enjoy listening to relaxation and piano music when I paint - it feels like meditation to me.

I love natural pigments and textures, so I often paint using mixed media such as ground coffee beans, fresh coffee, cement, sand, natural clays, minerals and acrylic paint. I love the way that these mediums create an earthy feeling to artwork that imitates the same colours and textures that we see outdoors in nature.

I hope that you enjoy looking at my artwork just as much as I enjoyed creating them, and I will feel so incredibly honoured if any of them end up in your home.

Many smiles,

Mellow x

"When I'm painting, my mind goes into a soft meditative state. I feel slow, gentle and calm... My wish is for that feeling to come across when someone looks at my artwork. If they pause and have a mindful moment, then the art has served its purpose" Melanie Appleyard - Artist

 

Framing Suggestions - Art Prints

I highly recommend getting your prints framed by a professional framer in your local area, or by adding a custom-made frame to your artwork in my online store.

Alternatively, you can purchase beautiful second-hand up-cycled frames from your local area, or you can buy them brand new from many local photo shops, boutiques or department stores. 

 

If you purchase an unframed print, they are delivered rolled up in a tube as this is the safest way to post them to avoid damage. If you are framing a print yourself at home, please treat the rolled-up print with care. It will be curly when you unwrap it out of the tube... The best way to flatten it is to unroll it, gently flatten it with your hands (I recommend using tissue paper or cotton gloves when doing this to avoid fingerprints), and then place the print on a flat surface for a couple of days to soften naturally on its own.

The prints look beautiful in matte white or wooden frames, which evoke the feeling of the original artwork. Alternatively, if you would like to add a touch of sparkle, gold frames look lovely also!

Custom-made Frames - Art Prints

If you purchase a custom-made frame with your print in my online store, these come ready to hang with string on the back.

The frame designs that I have chosen are fully archival and of museum quality. I wanted them to have a luxurious elegance and a timeless feel to them. It is also equally important to me that they protect your print and last for many years to come - hopefully even decades!

The backing of the frame is a high-quality 'Foam Core', which is acid-proof to protect the print. MDF wood can sometimes cause yellowing of prints over time, so I decided to go with a more expensive and protective option.

The 5.1cm white mat between the print and frame is of museum quality and fully archival (if you choose that frame option) - see image below

UV Glass for the front because it protects the print from fading by the sun, and glass is beautifully timeless

All custom-made frames have a 2cm depth (distance from the front of the frame to the wall)

 

Can I customise a frame?

Yes! You can have UV Perspex instead of UV glass, which is extremely high quality and looks just like real glass - but has the added benefit of being much less fragile! Simply write this request in the 'Special Order Instructions' once the item is in your cart and I will do the rest. The price remains the same - both options are premium quality and in the same price bracket for my frame maker when they make your frame.

The colour of the oak timber will vary slightly with each frame, because as with all things in nature... No two trees are ever the same!

I offer free shipping Australia-wide on all orders.

Every print is custom-made to order. Your print will be ordered from my chosen print shop, signed and numbered on the back by me, gift-wrapped, and taken to the post office - especially for you.

With all of these personal touches, it does mean that there can be a 2-3 week timeframe from order to dispatch for prints.

Framed prints can have a lead time of 4-6 weeks because all frames are custom-made to order also. They will be shipped to you directly from my frame maker.

You will receive an email from me with tracking details once your artwork has been shipped and is on it's way to you.

Unframed Prints are delivered rolled up in a tube as this is the safest way to post them to avoid damage.

Further information can be found in the FAQs section of my website, click 'here'

Currently, my online store is only available to customers in Australia. If you live Internationally and would like to make a purchase of a Limited Edition print, please send me an email at mellowappleyardart@gmail.com and we can arrange a manual transaction.

Can I see your Original Paintings or prints in real life?

While I do not currently have my own gallery space, if I have an exhibition somewhere I will post it on my Instagram page @mellowappleyardart 

Are your Original Paintings signed?

Absolutely! I hand paint my signature on the back of the paintings with the date and title of the artwork. I choose to sign the back because when you are looking at the painting I'd love for you to have a quiet and mindful moment with it for as long as you like... I feel as though my name is not needed in that space during that moment

I sign the Original paintings on the angle that I personally prefer. An advantage of the signature being on the back of the Original painting, is that the artwork can be displayed on any angle

Are your Limited Edition Art Prints signed?

All Limited Edition Art Prints are hand signed and numbered on the back by me on the angle that you chose when you purchase them - Landscape or Portrait

What type of paper do you use for the prints?

They are printed using museum-quality archival ink on 100% Cotton Paper - which is luxuriously thick, smooth to the touch, and has a matte look to it

Why did you choose to offer prints?

I love prints because it means that the art can be shared. They are all Limited Edition, so only a specific number of each print, size and style will ever be made

Do you ship to PO Boxes?

Custom-Made Framed Prints and Unframed prints can get sent anywhere around Australia.

If you request delivery to a PO Box, you must be aware of any size restrictions that may be in place (eg some Parcel Lockers and Post Offices are restricted to specific sizes). If an item is returned to me because it can't be delivered due to size restrictions, then you will need to cover the cost to get it re-sent to an approved address - a work address is a good alternative option

What if there are damages upon arrival?

Being an Independent Artist and a small business means that I package all of the unframed rolled prints myself. The custom-made framed prints get shipped to you from the framing craftsmen after they receive your print from me and make your frame.

While I hope that it never happens, I understand that things can sometimes get damaged in transit. If something has arrived damaged, please get in touch as soon as possible. Everything will be handled in a case-by-case manner, and my priority will always be that you have a positive outcome. I'll need photos to try and determine what happened, and it will also help me prevent something similar from happening in the future for you and other customers

What payment methods do you offer?

I accept all major Credit Cards such as Visa, Mastercard and AMEX. Also Paypal, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Afterpay is available for up to $2000 - so you can shop now and pay later!

If you would prefer to do a Direct Bank Deposit or pay in Cash, send me an email and we can arrange a manual transaction

If you have any questions or enquiries please get in touch... mellowappleyardart@gmail.com

mellowappleyardart@gmail.com

All emails will be kindly tended to between Monday - Friday

I want you to love my artwork when you receive it, and I try my best to represent the colours as best as I can in the images on my website and on social media. The lighting in photos, and lighting on phone and computer screens can make the colours of each artwork seem a little different. I recommend that you view the artwork on a couple of devices before committing to a purchase, because all purchases are final

I also recommend ensuring that the 'eye comfort shield' 'true tone' or 'night mode' on a mobile phone, tablet or laptop is turned 'off' when looking at images of artwork, because it can give the images a yellow tinge

While I hope that it never happens, I understand that things can sometimes get damaged in transit. If something has arrived damaged, please get in touch as soon as possible. Everything will be handled in a case-by-case manner, and my priority will be that you have a positive outcome. I'll need photos to try and determine what happened, and it will also help me prevent something similar from happening in the future for you and other customers