HEY THERE

   I’m Melissa Mathieson. After 20 awesome years of full-time teaching, I’ve traded in my classroom for a much slower-paced, art-filled life in my cozy home studio with my trusty sidekick/my youngest kiddo. This fall has certainly felt a bit strange, spending the back-to-school season at home with my little guy, painting and parenting, rather than in my classroom, prepping.

      In addition to the little one I’ve got at home, I have 4 other school-aged kiddos who keep me on my toes. Luckily, I also have an awesome husband and partner to help navigate through all of the craziness life brings us. And last but not least, all 7 of us share our home with three cats, three dogs, a tortoise and plenty of creative chaos here in beautiful Alberta, Canada.

     With a passion for getting messy and breaking all the traditional rules in art, I am perfectly suited for the mixed-media world! I especially love working on canvas, art journaling and recently, I’ve even ventured into the digital world with hopes that more of my quirky creations can make their way off the canvas and into more products designed for everyday use. It’s been a fantastic adventure so far, learning new skills, techniques, and hand-making all the products for my shop. Knowing that there is even more of this type of work ahead brings me inexplicable joy.

      I cannot wait to start this new chapter in my life; to finally be able to put my work out into the world by launching my online store and to be able to share the whimsy of Homely Gnome Studio with all of you!