Artist Spotlight: Melissa McKinnon

One of the benefits of collaborative projects, is interacting and learning from amazing people and artists from across the country. We thought it would be fun to peel back the veil and introduce you to the artists who provide the background canvas and inspiration for our transformative puzzle experiences.

Today, we're excited to shine a little light on one of our earliest collaborators: Melissa McKinnon. 

What was the inspiration behind the art featured in your StumpCraft puzzle?

Bursting Blooms was inspired by the natural beauty coming to life in my garden during late spring. After a long, colorless winter, there’s a magical moment when the first blooms begin to open—suddenly, the garden is bursting with color, energy, and joy. It feels alive, generous, and completely unrestrained. This painting is a celebration of that feeling—a joyful, modern interpretation of a traditional flower arrangement. With thick, sculptural strokes of paint, I built the flowers petal by petal, allowing them to grow wildly on the canvas. It’s a tribute to untamed beauty and the way nature always finds a way to bloom.

Are you a puzzler? What does the perfect puzzling moment look like to you?

I’ve loved puzzles ever since I was a child, and now I get to share that tradition with my two daughters.

The perfect puzzling moment is a cozy afternoon at the kitchen table, sunlight streaming in, a warm drink nearby, and quiet music playing in the background. It’s a slow, peaceful activity that invites conversation, connection, and creativity. There’s a deep sense of satisfaction in watching the image come together piece by piece, especially when it’s a painting that holds personal meaning.

How does it feel to experience your artwork transformed into a puzzle?

It’s such a delight to see my artwork transformed into a puzzle—it gives people a completely different way to experience the painting. Instead of taking in the image all at once, puzzling invites a slower, more intimate interaction. You start to notice details you might have missed before—the texture of the brushstrokes, the way the colors interact, the energy in each petal and leaf. It’s like rediscovering the piece from the inside out.

What makes it even more special is StumpCraft’s incredible attention to detail and creativity. Each puzzle is its own one-of-a-kind experience, with a custom-cut design that includes whimsical, storybook-like shapes hidden within the puzzle itself. In Bursting Blooms, you’ll find pieces that form a gentleman handing a rose to his beloved, watering cans, individual blossoms, flowers in vases, and more. I absolutely love the charm and imagination they bring to the process. Finding and assembling those little picture-pieces adds a whole new layer of fun, surprise, and delight. And the quality of the handcrafted wooden puzzle is exceptional—it truly feels like a work of art in its own right.

What’s a fun or surprising detail in your painting that people might not notice at first?

One of the things I love most about Bursting Blooms is how the layers of texture and color reveal themselves over time. Up close, you can see thick, sculptural strokes of paint—petals built with a palette knife, almost like frosting a cake. Some flowers are fully formed, while others are just suggestions—blurs of color and energy that capture the feeling of a bloom rather than its exact form. There are areas where colors have dripped, blended, or collided in unexpected ways. These little surprises—moments where I’ve let the paint move freely—are often the most alive parts of the painting, and they’re easy to miss at first glance.

What are you working on these days?

Right now, I’m in the process of building a new studio and gallery space—my dream creative environment where I can make bigger, bolder work and share it in a more personal, immersive way. I’m also developing a new body of work that blends expressive florals and abstract landscapes with rich texture, vibrant color, and dynamic movement. I’ve been experimenting with materials like inks and powdered pigments, pushing the boundaries of how paint can be applied and experienced. It’s a time of exploration and growth, and I’m loving where it’s taking me.

What do you enjoy most about your work as an artist?

What I love most is the ability to create something that didn’t exist before—something that can move people, spark emotion, or bring a sense of beauty into their lives.

Painting is both a deeply personal process and a shared experience. It allows me to express feelings and ideas that are hard to put into words, and then send that energy out into the world. I also love the physical act of painting—the rhythm of the brush, the richness of the colors, the feel of thick paint under a palette knife. It’s meditative, joyful, and endlessly challenging in the best way.

What’s something you wish more people knew about being a professional artist?

I think many people see the finished artwork and imagine the process as purely fun or effortless—but being a professional artist is a full-time commitment that takes a lot of dedication, persistence, and heart. It’s equal parts creativity and resilience. There’s so much happening behind the scenes: planning, experimenting, problem-solving, documenting, framing, shipping, marketing, and running a business. That said, it’s also incredibly fulfilling. I get to wake up every day and do work that feels meaningful—work that connects with others. It’s not always easy, but it’s absolutely worth it.

How would you describe your art style?

My art style is expressive, textured, and joyfully bold. I use thick, sculptural strokes of paint to build vibrant floral and abstract landscapes that are full of movement and emotion. I’m not aiming for realism—instead, I want to capture the feeling of a moment, the energy of a blooming garden, or the atmosphere of a place remembered. Color is one of my favorite tools for storytelling, and I love layering it in ways that feel both intentional and a little wild. My work often walks the line between abstraction and representation, leaving space for the viewer’s own interpretation and emotional response.

What’s your favorite color palette to work with, and why?

I’m endlessly drawn to vibrant, saturated colors—rich pinks, warm corals, golden yellows, deep blues, and lush greens. I love how these hues can evoke emotion and energy, and how they interact to create harmony or contrast. My favorite palettes often feel like a celebration—joyful, generous, and alive. That said, I also enjoy balancing bold colors with soft neutrals and unexpected tones to create depth and movement. Color is such a powerful language, and I love using it to tell visual stories that feel both uplifting and grounded.

What are your favorite materials or tools to work with?

I love working with thick, buttery acrylic paint—it allows me to build rich, sculptural texture with every stroke. One of my favorite tools is the palette knife; it gives me the freedom to layer paint boldly and intuitively, creating a sense of movement and energy on the canvas. I also work with brushes, of course, but there’s something incredibly satisfying about the unpredictability and physicality of knife work. In addition to paint, I enjoy experimenting with inks and dry pigments to push the boundaries of texture, transparency, and color. I’m always curious about new ways to apply materials and make each piece feel dynamic and alive.

Thanks Melissa. Final question! If you wanted people to take away one message through your art, what would it be?

I want people to feel uplifted. To be reminded of the beauty and joy that still exists in the world—often right outside our windows. My paintings are a celebration of life’s vibrancy: color, texture, movement, and emotion. Whether someone spends hours puzzling over a piece or lives with the painting in their space, seeing it each day, I hope it becomes a source of inspiration—a reassuring presence that invites them to pause, breathe, and reconnect with the present moment. More than anything, I want my art to offer a sense of joy, grounding, and connection in a fast-moving world.

❤️