Melissa Gay (she/her)'s Avatar

Melissa Gay (she/her)

@melissagayyy

I am a neurodiverse LGBTQ+ artist passionate about sci-fi, fantasy, and wildlife art. Myths and legends of nature inspire me, as does science as it expands our view of the cosmos. I believe artwork = human work. Abolish ICE!

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10.09.2023
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Latest posts by Melissa Gay (she/her) @melissagayyy

With so much love!!! πŸ’š β˜€οΈ

23.01.2026 01:58 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Looking forward to another awesome @conpossible.bsky.social !!! Not long now...!

23.01.2026 01:56 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

So my friend's gofundme has just snuck past 7k which is amazing! If she can raise this much twice more she'd be there!!!

10.12.2025 01:20 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Funny thing is, this could apply to literally any point of our campaign!

04.12.2025 07:06 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

It always turns into What We Do In The Shadows in the end!

04.12.2025 07:05 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I am so happy you like it! β™₯οΈβ˜€οΈ

02.09.2025 23:35 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Great to be in this show with you and all the other amazing artists!!

14.06.2025 18:36 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This right here. Humans react how they train to react, so train yourself on this phrase.

NO KINGS

14.06.2025 18:35 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

My Two of Swords painting in the show!!!

12.06.2025 18:56 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

WOW!!! Due to insomnia, I lucked into an astronomical event! Venus bigger than I've EVER seen it in the East, about 6 degrees above the horizon, while the thinnest sliver of a crescent moon rises to the left! BREATHTAKING! <3 <3 <3

25.05.2025 10:15 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A dark-haired woman stands blindfolded, in front of the sea, holding two crossed swords under a crescent moon. This is a painting for all the people displaced or endangered by the Trump administration’s policies on immigration, reproductive rights and health, Trans personhood, Indigenous peoples, and all the families affected. My Two of Swords card is a symbol for all who have been forced to make difficult choices within a landscape of ever-shifting policies, and having to make judgement calls while blinded by a lack of information. What do you do when you find yourself between the devil and the deep blue sea? I think none of us know for sure until we're there ourselves. The figure in the painting wears a friendship bracelet crafted by Cherokee Copper artist Greg Stice, which I gave to my best friend in celebration of her achieving her level 3 Cherokee language certificate. Although Native, she is in danger of being swept up in an ICE raid and deported because she cannot pass for white. It was her decision to leave her home and relocate to a safer state that inspired me to paint this.

A dark-haired woman stands blindfolded, in front of the sea, holding two crossed swords under a crescent moon. This is a painting for all the people displaced or endangered by the Trump administration’s policies on immigration, reproductive rights and health, Trans personhood, Indigenous peoples, and all the families affected. My Two of Swords card is a symbol for all who have been forced to make difficult choices within a landscape of ever-shifting policies, and having to make judgement calls while blinded by a lack of information. What do you do when you find yourself between the devil and the deep blue sea? I think none of us know for sure until we're there ourselves. The figure in the painting wears a friendship bracelet crafted by Cherokee Copper artist Greg Stice, which I gave to my best friend in celebration of her achieving her level 3 Cherokee language certificate. Although Native, she is in danger of being swept up in an ICE raid and deported because she cannot pass for white. It was her decision to leave her home and relocate to a safer state that inspired me to paint this.

New painting! Two of Swords for "ARCANUM: Painting the Fates" at Valkarie Gallery (@valkariegallery on social media) in Colorado. What do you do when you find yourself between the devil and the deep blue sea? I think none of us know for sure until we're there ourselves. Alt text for the full story.

23.05.2025 22:19 πŸ‘ 21 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you!!! I appreciate that!

22.05.2025 18:34 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you so much!!!! <3 <3 <3

22.05.2025 18:34 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Wow, it's fantastic! It looks like an etching by DorΓ©!

06.05.2025 23:17 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A witchy-looking woman, her face half-shrouded in shadow, floats in the air in the eye of a storm. Her dress is the whirlwind, her scarf makes lightning. Around her, clouds transform into ravens.

A witchy-looking woman, her face half-shrouded in shadow, floats in the air in the eye of a storm. Her dress is the whirlwind, her scarf makes lightning. Around her, clouds transform into ravens.

My latest piece, "Rising Storm", 18" x 24", acrylic on paper mounted to hardboard. It is about transformation and rage, rage against that which wants to suppress who and what we are.

18.04.2025 18:10 πŸ‘ 35 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
A photo of a WIP watercolor sketchbook page showing a cute Black man with long dreadlocks smiling in a colorful high fashion shirt. A color palette sheet is next to the sketchbook. It reads β€˜Traditional Artist Portfolio Day Share’ over top of the photo.

A photo of a WIP watercolor sketchbook page showing a cute Black man with long dreadlocks smiling in a colorful high fashion shirt. A color palette sheet is next to the sketchbook. It reads β€˜Traditional Artist Portfolio Day Share’ over top of the photo.

The art industry is extra hard for traditional artists so:

πŸŽ‰ Let’s do a traditional art #PortfolioDay share! πŸŽ‰

Link to your portfolio day post below and I’ll share a bunch today!

Any traditional media is welcome (2D or 3D).

πŸ‘‰ Not a traditional artist? Please boost and help us out ✨

08.04.2025 07:34 πŸ‘ 68 πŸ” 35 πŸ’¬ 11 πŸ“Œ 3

*snek*

04.04.2025 21:58 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Absolutely lovely!!

04.04.2025 21:56 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Nooooo, feel better soon! ❀️

01.03.2025 15:24 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
A luminous face, painted in yellows, turquoises, and touches of red, emerges from beneath the mossy blanket of a forest floor. She is crowned in branches or upturned tree roots, and gazing dreamily up at the world. A leaf dangles from a cobweb near where her ear would be, as if an ornament or jewelry. Ferns curl next to her face, and mushrooms sprout near her shoulder. 

The forest behind her is orange-hued, to suggest she could be waking either to a sunlit world, or to the foreshadowing of a world on fire.

A luminous face, painted in yellows, turquoises, and touches of red, emerges from beneath the mossy blanket of a forest floor. She is crowned in branches or upturned tree roots, and gazing dreamily up at the world. A leaf dangles from a cobweb near where her ear would be, as if an ornament or jewelry. Ferns curl next to her face, and mushrooms sprout near her shoulder. The forest behind her is orange-hued, to suggest she could be waking either to a sunlit world, or to the foreshadowing of a world on fire.

My painting "Dryad Wakes From a Dream" got selected to be in the vol. 13 IBA annual!!! I am thrilled, because I love her, obviously, but also I literally never know which of my pieces is going to resonate with an art jury, LOL. Acrylic on Strathmore 500, 12x18".

15.02.2025 21:53 πŸ‘ 62 πŸ” 12 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

@vaklam.bsky.social It's that scene from our Vampire game!

13.02.2025 00:20 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Me, Melissa Gay, in front of some of my art

Me, Melissa Gay, in front of some of my art

My vendor booth display for CONpossible! Paintings to the back, prints to the sides, and merch to the front, with my Trans Ally flag on proud display.

My vendor booth display for CONpossible! Paintings to the back, prints to the sides, and merch to the front, with my Trans Ally flag on proud display.

Another view of my vendor space, this time showing the flip bin bearing the 13x19" prints, all the way to the right. My table runner has honey bees on it, because that's what my name means. :)

Another view of my vendor space, this time showing the flip bin bearing the 13x19" prints, all the way to the right. My table runner has honey bees on it, because that's what my name means. :)

I was at CONpossible in Duluth, GA, this past weekend, and it was SO FUN!! Mad props to the organizers. They had a ton of programming, a tea room, lots of vendors and authors, and WONDERFUL fans! An absolute treat to be around! The weekend just flew by, and I hope I get to go again next year! ❀️

13.02.2025 00:15 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I will! :) It's possible I'll have them at CONpossible this weekend, even! Fingers and toes crossed, lol

04.02.2025 13:02 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you!

23.01.2025 23:19 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Left: "River of Stars", 8 x 10 inches. Right Top: "Green Nebula", 4 x 4 inches. Right Bottom: "Upper Atmospheric Storm", 4 x 4 inches, won Third Prize Professional Sci-Fi at the Chattacon Art Show! :) All are acrylic on canvas, painted by me, Melissa Gay.

Left: "River of Stars", 8 x 10 inches. Right Top: "Green Nebula", 4 x 4 inches. Right Bottom: "Upper Atmospheric Storm", 4 x 4 inches, won Third Prize Professional Sci-Fi at the Chattacon Art Show! :) All are acrylic on canvas, painted by me, Melissa Gay.

Here are a bunch of tiny space paintings! :) Well, kinda small anyway. Acrylic on canvas is my jam! <3 It unblocks my stream of consciousness and lets my creativity flow.

23.01.2025 23:14 πŸ‘ 31 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I'm so sorry! This sucks!!

23.01.2025 23:08 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
My decorated booth at the Chattacon Art Show, plus some stray materials for my Fairytale panel at 6pm Friday and 1pm Sunday!

My decorated booth at the Chattacon Art Show, plus some stray materials for my Fairytale panel at 6pm Friday and 1pm Sunday!

Closer view of my banner and booth display, original paintings, canvas prints, paper prints, and art books.

Closer view of my banner and booth display, original paintings, canvas prints, paper prints, and art books.

Finishing setup at the Chattacon 50 Art Show! Chattacon was my first-ever con back in the day and is very special to me. Yay for 50 years!!!

18.01.2025 03:09 πŸ‘ 22 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Happy Holidays to everyone!!!!

26.12.2024 02:42 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup cranberries (chopped after measuring)
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- (Note: I also had to add a few drops of lemon juice to get the mixture to come up to setting temperature.)

1. Chop the cranberries to a medium dice (or larger if you prefer).
2. Combine the chopped cranberries, sugar, and water in a small saucepan.
3. Bring to a boil on medium heat and let the mixture reach jam setting temperature (217 to 222 degrees Fahrenheit). Then lower the heat and simmer about 12 minutes until the mixture is thickened and jam like. You can place a saucer in the freezer and drop ΒΌ teaspoon on to the dish to check the gel, but this probably isn’t needed since cranberry jam is much less exacting than other jams.
4. Pour into a lidded jar or other covered container, cover and place in the refrigerator to finish thickening.

INGREDIENTS: - 1 cup cranberries (chopped after measuring) - 1/3 cup sugar - 1/2 cup water - (Note: I also had to add a few drops of lemon juice to get the mixture to come up to setting temperature.) 1. Chop the cranberries to a medium dice (or larger if you prefer). 2. Combine the chopped cranberries, sugar, and water in a small saucepan. 3. Bring to a boil on medium heat and let the mixture reach jam setting temperature (217 to 222 degrees Fahrenheit). Then lower the heat and simmer about 12 minutes until the mixture is thickened and jam like. You can place a saucer in the freezer and drop ΒΌ teaspoon on to the dish to check the gel, but this probably isn’t needed since cranberry jam is much less exacting than other jams. 4. Pour into a lidded jar or other covered container, cover and place in the refrigerator to finish thickening.

Here you go! :) Enjoy!

13.12.2024 08:01 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Awesome, thank youuuuuuuu!!!

13.12.2024 07:28 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0