Maria Melo

I don't think of myself as an artist in the traditional sense, rather a curious soul deeply passionate about life and the ongoing journey of understanding myself and the world around me. Painting and drawing are not pursuits of status or definition for me — they are spaces of release, reflection, and discovery. Through color, form, and gesture, I explore emotions that words often fail to express. Creating is a cathartic practice, a quiet dialogue between inner experience and outer reality. It grounds me, challenges me, and brings me clarity. Above all, it is something that nurtures me and allows me to grow. I share my work only when it feels truly ready. If it resonates with you and speaks to something within, I would be genuinely happy to let it go and find a new home with you. I enjoy creating my canvases from scratch, working with linen, paper, and pressed wood to build each piece from the ground up. My practice moves in cycles: at times I am drawn to the human figure, exploring portraits and presence; at others, I feel the need to step away from detail, allowing the work to open into abstraction. In these moments, form dissolves and intuition takes over, guiding the process in a more fluid and expressive way.

2016 Project Studio in Painting with Prof. Domingos Loureiro, FBAUP
2015 Practical Course of Painting Technologies and Procedural Methods - Grade III, Professors Sofia Torres and Domingos Loureiro, FBAUP.
2014 Practical Painting Course - Grade II, Professor Sofia Torres, FBAUP.
2009 Free Drawing Course with Professor Ricardo Leite, FBAUP.
2008 Oil Portrait Workshop from Model, Professor Ricardo Leite.
2008 Workshop on Basic Techniques of Oil Painting, Professor Ricardo Leite.
2007 Curso Desenhos do Corpo, Professor Mario Bismark, FBAUP.
2007 Free Drawing Course, Professor Ricardo Leite, FBAUP.