Meet Melissa Abila, Artist of the Month

Artist Melissa Abila of Portland, Oregon is the First Friday Artist of the Month at Wheatgrass Arts & Gallery, 523 2nd Ave. South, in Glasgow.

She will be in the gallery from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday to meet with the public.

Abila was born in Pomona, California, and spent her early childhood in rural and suburban Utah before moving to Portland at the age of 12.

As a child, Abila said she was endlessly entertained with coloring books, pads of paper and crayons.

Abila received no formal art training until changing her major from journalism to fine arts at the University of Oregon, where she studied oil painting, watercolor painting and relief printmaking.

After graduating, Abila relocated to Monterey, California, where she continued creating art while working for a real estate company before returning to Oregon in 2005.

Independently, Abila painted watercolor and oil paintings of numerous listings for agents to use as gifts for clients or marketing.

Her work has been featured in several issues of Monterey Peninsula Homes Magazine.

In Oregon, Abila managed the office of a boat repair business and was commissioned to paint an oil painting of an antique wooden Coast Guard boat. The painting of the Coast Guard boat was part of an exhibit in Tillamook, Oregon later that year.

Abila is a self-described animal lover and owner of two guinea pig males, named Provolone and Timothy. She has created pet portraits for nearly twenty years now.

One of Abila's pet portraits was featured on the "backpage gallery" of the Carmel Country Magazine.

Abila entered two pieces in the 2021 NE Montana County Fair. Her "Bread & iPad on Pink Background" was awarded a "Best of Fair" ribbon, and her watercolor received 1st in its category.

Abila said she is thrilled to have the opportunity to spend time in Glasgow to focus on painting and grow as an artist.

Also at Wheatgrass

On August 21, Wheatgrass hosted "Bleachworks."

During the event, five artists joined Leith DeWeese for a stress free, meditative art project.

Using bleach to design the accents, and colored pencils to create the design, DeWeese led the class in experiencing an old Central and South American cloth design called Mola.

Although paper was used in place of fabric, the students created a visual facsimile to the brightly colored tradition.

Upcoming Events

• Sept. 25 - 10 a.m. to Noon - Leith is back in the classroom with adorable cellophane sculptures. With the coming holidays, you can choose to create a fairy, an angel, a witch, a ghost....whatever fits your mood. ($40)

• Oct. 10 -6 X6 ART SQUARE Silent Auction Fundraiser. 25% of funds raised will go toward an award to a graduating senior who will be studying art in the fall. In the past, the gallery has presented the student with a gift certificate to Dick Blick to help pay for supplies.

• POTTERY CLASSES in Wheel and Handbuilding will be available starting in September.

Host: Mary Fahlgren

Date and time: Decided by student

• PRIVATE CLASSES

One time CLAY class: $70 (this includes 25# clay, 2 1/2 hrs. instructions, tools, glaze, firing fee and 3 hours independent wheel use).

For more, visit wheatgrassarts.com