Today we’d like to introduce you to Melody Locke.
Hi Melody, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a child, I was captivated by a plaque that read, “Flowers are like smiles from God,” a simple sentiment that has stayed with me throughout my life and continues to inform my art. Some people look at my art and think that it reminds them of X-rays. To me, they’re sacred traces of what remains when the familiar form of nature disappears.
Raised by parents who were passionate gardeners, I watched seeds, bulbs, and saplings transform their gardens into vibrant displays of color and life. Summers spent along the beaches of the Jersey Shore and camping in the Pocono Mountains deepened my appreciation for the restorative power of the natural world. Those experiences continue to shape the imagery I create today.
My lumen prints are inspired, in part, by memories of my grandmother pressing flowers between the pages of books to preserve their fleeting beauty. Similarly, I use light-sensitive photographic paper and botanical materials to create one-of-a-kind images that capture the dignity of what is fragile, overlooked, or disappearing. Each piece is a direct collaboration between nature, light, and time.
For my collectors, my work offers more than botanical imagery. My prints are contemplative objects that invite moments of stillness and reflection. Through luminous color and ethereal form, I seek to preserve the sense of peace that I find in nature and bring that experience into the spaces where people live, work, and gather.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like most small business owners, I find that the road moves from smooth to “under construction,” often in very unexpected ways. I opened my studio in August 2019, which means I opened it just seven months before everything closed down because of COVID. Getting through that period was like experiencing Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. However, aside from things outside my control, I’m enjoying the journey. My studio is part of Silver Street Studios at Sawyer Yards, and I thoroughly enjoy being surrounded by other artists and meeting the public. I’ve recently been the Artist in Residence at Houston Intercontinental Airport, which has been an incredible experience. I’m amazed at how often people approach me to ask about my art.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in lumen printing—a camera-less photographic process that uses sunlight and natural materials like leaves and petals, then fixes them the traditional darkroom way. I’ve been working in it since 2015, and it’s what I’m known for and where most of my energy goes now. What sets it apart, and what I love about it, is that there’s no camera between me and the image; the plant material and the light do the work, and the results have this ethereal, almost X-ray quality people respond to. I still draw on 19 years of traditional darkroom experience, which shapes how I print, fix, and tone the work, but lumen printing is the focus. I’m probably proudest that other artists now come to me for help with the process itself and the practical side of running a studio practice.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Although I wasn’t born here, I’ve lived in Houston for most of my life. For many years, it seemed second best to Dallas or Austin, but I believe those perceptions have changed. I love and embrace its diversity and am grateful to be plugged into the vibrant art scene. It might not be perfect, and I enjoy visiting other places, but I can’t see myself living anyplace else. If I could change anything, I’d wave a magic wand and make all hurricanes “fish storms”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://melodylocke.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodylockeart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelodyLockeArt/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodylocke
