Melissa Anderson 8/27/26 Melissa Anderson 8/27/26

Mary Whyte: Seeing the Person Behind the Painting

Mary Whyte, a brilliant American painter, really knows how to capture the stories behind people she paints. I took so much from the workshop I did with her. Watercolor paints were not among those things!

Melissa Anderson 8/19/26 Melissa Anderson 8/19/26

The Birthday Boy, Knox

Some dogs fetch. Some dogs guard. Some dogs learn tricks. And some dogs know exactly when their boy needs them. Knox is one of those dogs. And he deserves a very good hat.

Melissa Anderson 5/27/26 Melissa Anderson 5/27/26

Solving the Painting (Or Changing the Problem)

Melissa Anderson 1/12/26 Melissa Anderson 1/12/26

Frida Kahlo, $55 Million, and the Bed Where the Work Was Made

A Frida Kahlo painting sold for $55 million. After visiting her bed in the Blue House, I reflect on painting through illness, confinement, and necessity.

Melissa Anderson 10/28/25 Melissa Anderson 10/28/25

Here Kitty, Kitty: The Inspiration Behind a Locked Door

Ten years ago, a tiny kitten named Olive got herself trapped in a mountain house bedroom, leading to a midnight rescue, a sawed-out antique door, and one unforgettable memory.

Melissa Anderson 9/19/25 Melissa Anderson 9/19/25

Learning Through Play: Chaser’s Lesson for Artists

Chaser, Wofford College’s legendary border collie, learned over 1,000 words and changed the way we think about man’s best friend.

Melissa Anderson 8/28/25 Melissa Anderson 8/28/25

Not an Oyster Kind of Guy: Why Cézanne Painted Apples Instead

Paul Cézanne painted apples, bottles, and tablecloths—but never oysters. That struck me as odd, since oysters were everywhere in 19th-century life and often showed up in other artists’ still lifes. Once a “fancy” food for the wealthy, oysters became cheap and common by the mid-1800s, showing up in markets from New Orleans to London. Maybe Cézanne just painted what he knew—fruit and jugs in his studio. For me, oysters are part of Southern life, a reminder that art often comes from the everyday things right in front of us.