Welcome to The Truth in Us Art. I am your host, Rob Lee. Thank you for joining me today for these conversations that matter, conversations at the intersection of arts, culture, and community. And before we get started, I wanna thank Eaton Radio at the Eaton Hotel for putting us up today. Speaking of today, we're running it back.
Rob Lee:And I'm welcoming back my next guest, a multifaceted visual artist who uses her work to express vulnerability and to tell stories. Her art is deeply influenced by Caribbean and West African cultures, focusing on the power and worth of women, especially women of color. Please welcome Melanie Royster. Welcome back to the podcast.
Melanie Royster:Thanks for having me again.
Rob Lee:Yes. So, again, you know, appreciate you coming on and you know, it's been a few years. I think we were counting earlier. I didn't you we didn't I didn't get to a full hand, but it's been 3 to 4 years.
Melanie Royster:Yeah. I would say. I would say. It's been a while. Time is like going slow and fast at the same time, I feel like.
Melanie Royster:So like there's some things that I remember from when I first started
Rob Lee:Yep. And I'm
Melanie Royster:like that just felt like yesterday, but then there's things that like people remind me of as well, and I'm like, oh, that seems so long ago. So it's just everything I don't know. I feel like just being a artist or entrepreneur, like, in business is just you're just all over the place sometimes. Sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way, but
Rob Lee:See, your your point around time is accurate. I usually use how much hair I have at a given point to see where I'm at. Mhmm. I was like, no, this is a while ago. Or or or what I was wearing, I was like, I don't wear that color
Melanie Royster:anymore. I used to wear my hair like green all the time. I don't know what happened. I think when we did our the podcast, my hair was green or purple Yeah. At the time.
Melanie Royster:I had not done that in a while. I don't know why, it just stopped.
Rob Lee:So you're out of your grain period is what you're saying?
Melanie Royster:I wanna get back to it. It was so fun. That period was so fun and free. I'm so serious now. That's one thing that's changed since.
Melanie Royster:I am so serious I hate it. I'm so serious about everything.
Rob Lee:So so I'd be remiss if I don't do this. For those who might not remember that first episode, that first interview, and or just need a refresher, can you reintroduce yourself and tell us what you're working on these days?
Melanie Royster:Yeah. So my name is Melanie Royster. I'm with Melroy Art. Since the last time we talked, I have made Melroy Art LLC, so just getting more serious. Like I said in the beginning.
Melanie Royster:Right now, especially right now in this period, I feel like I'm dipping more into, like, my fine art era. I feel like when we last talked, that was more like kinda like the commercial art side where I would work with organizations, or I was kinda just picking up, like, gigs in a way where now I'm finding myself more in a fine art space or doing a lot of exhibitions or yeah. Just more so in that space, which is different for me. I'm used to commercial projects and getting that consistent flow of, like, revenue and so on, where fine arts, it's just like a lot more goes into it and all the things, but it's exciting.
Rob Lee:What what was the and thank you. What what was the the the the drive or sort of was there anything that made that push to more towards fine art?
Melanie Royster:I feel like I well, I love painting. So, like, we already know about, like, well, if you don't know, I love murals. Right? But paintings, I feel like I just started to pour more into them. I started creating, more pieces in a smaller amount of time.
Melanie Royster:I've gained collectors over, you know, a while, and people investing more into my art in that way. And I don't know, I feel like it happened naturally. I talked to other artists and they're like, sometimes things goes and flows, like, you might have one period of time where you're doing a lot of murals. There might be one period where you're doing a lot more brand projects. Right now, you're just more in your exhibiting your art error.
Melanie Royster:Sure. Really. But I feel like I manifested it. I said I want to grow in the field, and so it really came full force, like, really full force. But I feel like it just mainly happened naturally.
Melanie Royster:I try to lean into whatever is happening naturally, so I'm not forcing myself to do anything that I shouldn't be doing at that time.
Rob Lee:That's good. Thank you. I I I think about, you know, my my algorithm is filled with inspirational stuff, around specifically like arts and culture and like sort of the art process. And when I think of sort of like manifesting something, it's like don't start asking for things you ain't ready for.
Melanie Royster:Yeah. Yeah. That is true.
Rob Lee:And I I remember Pharrell talking about it. He's like, your things are gonna come, but are you prepared for
Melanie Royster:me? Mhmm.
Rob Lee:And that's and that's so real and so it sounds like, you know, having this this background and having sort of like being able to do a lot has prepared you in in many ways for like, I wanna explore this now.
Melanie Royster:Yeah. Especially like even now I have a manager now, hip in our house, I know you're watching, which has helped me tremendously. She's great, and actually, I just had my first showing at Art Basel this past year.
Rob Lee:Nice.
Melanie Royster:And Yeah. So she represented me. Hip in our house represented me. So having a manager and so on, someone that, you know, that I feel like that I have support almost like a colleague in a way is also nice when we're talk we before we even came on, we're talking about that loneliness factor. So feeling like you have people that are working with you everyday feels quite nice, and it helps with, you know, navigating something new, like me being in the fine arts space.
Melanie Royster:Because it's very different than more of the commercial arts.
Rob Lee:It is it is it's fun to, at times, commiserate with someone who gets it, if you will. Mhmm. And I I have a friend who just said, you're a culture guy. And I was like, I'll take it. I'll take it.
Rob Lee:And and I think that that's it's it's broad in that I can have a conversation with an artist. I can have a conversation with a chef for sake of argument and be able to relate in such a way and pull stuff out they're not even, like, really really thinking of. And I just remember, like, I get kitchen access sometimes because I'm like, here's the thing, chef. You know
Rob Lee:how it is? It's like, oh, you get it. You get it. Come on down. Come on down.
Rob Lee:I wanna cook
Rob Lee:you something. I was like, this is amazing, or nothing is cooler than when someone who's had an art practice for a very long time, they have sort of the home studio. That's a sacred space to be. It's not just trivial.
Melanie Royster:Mhmm.
Rob Lee:And like some people don't appreciate that, but they're like, hey, can we do the interview at my studio? I'm like, hell yes. Let's do this. How can I bring what I do there? And it feels like you get it, I get it, there's respect, there's a sort of thing that's there, it's the energy that's there.
Melanie Royster:Exactly. Exactly.
Rob Lee:So over so the the one of the things within this arc of interviews is sort of looking over the the lifespan of, like, the last 5 years. So how and I and I know this that this is the shift towards more fine artwork, but how's your creative process and like vision, like, changed or or evolved? Like, is it just, you know, kind of certain things are very similar or certain things are just this is vastly different now?
Melanie Royster:I would say vastly different. I do notice So there's difference in like the content itself, like what I'm painting, and then the actual style. When it comes to style, I do see a difference. I noticed it late last year that there's a little slight difference, maybe a maturity in my paintings. I feel like starting, when I started my business 2020, I was very much a young adult, you know, there I was still navigating a lot of things, learning how to set boundaries.
Melanie Royster:There was a lot going on where it's like the art grew with me over that time. Because being a young adult going from now where I feel like I'm an adult adult. I mean, I still feel like a child, but going from a young adult to, like, actually being adult with serious responsibility, and then you're dealing with, like, now I'm in my thirties, it's like, it's very different. I feel like the art is reflecting that and even the content of my work, I feel like I'm focusing more on, like, marking history.
Rob Lee:Sure.
Melanie Royster:Like, I know that me as a black female artist, and I just mentioned that in a post that I posted today, that it's important to reflect the times that are happening right now, especially in paintings because we could pose whatever we want online, but that could go away tomorrow. So, like, having something physical that could be passed down from generation to generation, making sure that I reflect what's going on so that nobody could skew what my story was or, you know, all those things. So I'm thinking about that in my work even though it's vibrant and it makes people feel, if you're really looking at the work even further, you'll see that there's underlining messages under that too as well. So I feel like that's in a lot of my work. Kinda like some people would be like art activism
Rob Lee:Mhmm.
Melanie Royster:In a way. I just care and, I wanna keep talking about what's going on. I'm trying not to go insane, of course, or like crash out about, like, everything going on, but just, like, reflecting times in my work, but still keeping it vibrant and joyous because black people need to see that too as well.
Rob Lee:Or
Melanie Royster:people of color or women need to see that as well, but also being serious and talking about serious things too in my work.
Rob Lee:I I wanna comment on that in a moment, and and this next question after this is gonna go a little bit further in that that that lane, but the the comment yeah. Like and I think the it's intention of, you know, like, we look at milestones, like, 10 years, 25. I was like, no. 5 is a good marker sometimes. Yeah.
Rob Lee:And I look at and having to go back through interviews that I did before, I was like, 1, don't ask the same question. 2, are you better at this now? Me as the interviewer. And, because I looked at some of the questions. I was like, yo, there's no depth in this.
Rob Lee:So how do you art? That's literally a question I had. I was like, that's a typo. Right? What what am I doing?
Rob Lee:Like and but trying to be a better person and making that transition, like, I'm 40 now and I was in my thirties then. So, you know, sort of there's a certain, I guess seriousness or certain adultness, if you will, there. But I think with repetition and those reps in times, you know, time past, my perspective and my insights are are different. So that's why in the selection process and the curation process of figuring out who do I wanna talk to, who can I delve a bit deeper with, or who do I feel like, alright, you can ask some better questions, my guy? Mhmm.
Rob Lee:That's that's sort of what drives some of this. And the other piece of capturing the now of it, like leaning more into this is an archive. It's not just something disposable. Here's this person that's on. But, you know, as much as I was like, I'm just a podcaster.
Rob Lee:I just do this. It's like, nah. People are sharing their stories with you in this open form and open format. Yeah. They wanna get on and say, look man, Tiny Toon Adventures is what's in my art and I'm gonna talk about Tiny Toon Adventures for an hour.
Rob Lee:Let's do it. And it's a real conversation. It's not contrived.
Melanie Royster:Yeah. Exactly. And I don't know, spaces like this are important, I feel like, especially me, I don't get to talk about my art all the time. Yeah. We have social media and stuff, but I'm not really feeling myself talking or doing as many voice overs.
Melanie Royster:I'm getting better at that. That's why I'm forcing myself to start using YouTube because when I do talk about my work, they're like, you should talk more. I'm just now finding my voice at this grown age, and now you can't shut me up. So I just wanna like, having spaces where, you know, people are working on talking more and just wanna share their story and where they usually wouldn't even have a platform to do so is important. So never think that what you're doing is not important.
Rob Lee:Well, thank you. Melroy podcast coming soon.
Melanie Royster:No. Well, that's that's elite. That's elite because I would just cringe. Like, I would I would do one and then 2 days later I will listen to it. I need to get used to even listening to my voice.
Melanie Royster:It like, even when we did the podcast, I couldn't listen to it for, like, weeks, Like until my friend forced me, like, she's like, listen to what you did. Like, there's a lot of times where I'm like, I don't wanna hear my voice, which
Rob Lee:This may be odd manifestation. Executive produced from the creators of the Truth of Disopter. It's just pictures of me throughout your podcast. But my ego no. So this this next question drives a little bit further into the, creative process and a vision, piece, but it includes sort of, you know, the the audience component and especially the timing.
Rob Lee:Right? So, you know, versatility, originality. Your bio mentions versatility as an artist, which I see. And and given that audiences tend to gravitate towards, I think, familiar styles, like when you think about movies, how many movies are just a sequels, a remake, and so on? And it's like we plan that we like originality, but it's almost a a shift towards a retread.
Rob Lee:So how do you maybe balance sort of alright. This is what I'm going to continue to explore. I can go deeper on this or this is something that's gonna be wildly vastly different from what I've done before, but it's still gonna have your signature style, your your color, your way, your acumen, if you will. How do you kind of marry those 2?
Melanie Royster:And I might I might ask you to, like, maybe ask that question again.
Rob Lee:More succinctly. Yeah. How do you stay versatile and original while, you know, there's sort of an audience? You you touched on a commercial work earlier. Mhmm.
Rob Lee:My folks are like, can you do more of something like that while extending what you're, you know
Melanie Royster:Well, especially if you're working with, like, let's say a company or something like that. So we'll touch more commercial arts because I guess, like, commissions, either way, for the most part, commissions, I could decide whether or not I work with somebody versus or even a brand still. So if the first thing is I'm not gonna work with anybody that where it just doesn't seem like it aligns at all. That saves a lot of that trouble, and I feel like a lot of artists, they feel like they're missing opportunities doing that, like, if they decide to refer another artist, which I do heavily, or just pass by an opportunity that they're losing money because there is this thing where it's like, let's take every opportunity because of, like, we need to be paid. True.
Melanie Royster:But also, as a byproduct, if you just take on all these opportunities, your audience for 1 is not they're not gonna know what you stand for, and then, you're kinda in this limbo where you don't feel fulfilled. I'm like, you could do any job. If you wanna make money and you're only solely doing art to just make money, you're probably you're probably gonna be disappointed at a certain point because, like, you could just be an accountant or something. You could do something else. I feel like being an artist is the hardest job, and it's probably not the job that you wanna do if you're solely just trying to make money.
Melanie Royster:I'm an artist because I want people to feel. I want to be able to use my art as a voice for people that don't have one, and, like, all those things. So I feel like, for 1, if I'm working with anybody or if anybody's trying to ask me to do a certain thing, that company or general has to align, but also advocate for me or the things that I advocate for too. So, it makes it easier, because then when I am working with those people, it doesn't feel like I'm not working within, like, how I am authentically. And then once it gets to a point where it feels odd, then it's like, oh, I made a a mistake here.
Melanie Royster:And sometimes you have to see it through if there's a contract involved or so on, but seeing if it aligns before you even start saves me a lot of trouble and I feel like I don't get too much in sticky positions. It's really if there's just a team that you're working with and everybody has opinions, but for the most part, I wouldn't have problems feeling authentic with my work because I'm doing that work before I even start.
Rob Lee:Right.
Melanie Royster:I'm not about to just work with anybody.
Rob Lee:Yeah. Because I I think and that that's a good distinction. I think having sort of that time, and as you said, you're you're serious about what you're you're doing, so you're able to filter through what some of these like, this is not in alignment. Yeah. And and I've I've had to to to do this because, hey.
Rob Lee:You talk to so many authentic voices and so on. And I was like, I do. So your brand's kinda fake. Oh. So why would I like, it's almost like make the case to me.
Rob Lee:Mhmm. Because my thing is is, you know, the the money thing is is such a good point, because I see people will do just anything. Mhmm. Just because it's like, oh, I'm out there. This is a great guest.
Rob Lee:It's like, do are you interested in this guest? Mhmm. No. Well, it's a really good opportunity for more exposure. I said, you're kind of doing it for the wrong reason or, you know, in the the last year and change, I've been able to do the education thing.
Melanie Royster:Mhmm. And I
Rob Lee:remember, you know, talking with some of my students. It's like, so how do we monetize this? Like, you need to know how to plug the mic in first before you even get to that monetization stage. It's like the money will be there, but what is your why?
Melanie Royster:Yeah. And I know I feel like a lot of people get lost too and sometimes it's not just about the money, but it's also like a lot of us are in survival mode. A lot of creatives right now are in survival mode, especially if you are trying to use your art to talk about change or so on. We see what's happening, like, things are highly censored right now.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Melanie Royster:Like, just even starting this week. So it could be hard because there is a balance of, you wanna stand for something, but you don't wanna be shadow banned. And then, like, you know, or you wanna say code words so that, like, your views don't go down or, you know, so I get it. I do. But, I think as a byproduct, especially if it is gonna be about money because we do have to get paid.
Rob Lee:Yep.
Melanie Royster:If you're just doing whatever, it's really hard for brands and so on if they wanna work with somebody and they don't know know necessarily what you stand for. They you might not get that job versus I feel like I consistently keep certain opportunities because I it's very clear wherever you find me, like, what I stand for and what I'm gonna paint, what I'm gonna create, and what my style looks like in general too, so.
Rob Lee:When it comes to the brand that is you, right, as an artist, what are the 3 things that is like, look, these are right here?
Melanie Royster:I feel like I always tie in nature. I feel like there's always like, the black woman experience. Even if it's like community, it's still from my experience. So like, there's gonna be the black woman experience in there, and then I feel like those are the main 2. Storytelling.
Melanie Royster:I guess, if you split the 2. So, like, just being a woman of color and then storytelling.
Rob Lee:Sure.
Melanie Royster:So nature is always included because that's what brings me joy. That's what, kinda grounds me as a person. In a lot of my work, I've been noticing I've been putting a lot of water in a lot of my work. Leaves, you will always see you will always see either a moon or sun figure. So Yeah.
Melanie Royster:And then, what I have been noticing a lot is just like this feeling like my ancestors are coming through my work too as well. Sure. So I would say that So those are 4 things. 3 to 4 things.
Rob Lee:So number I think number 5. Right? Thank you. That's that's great and I do see that in your work because I
Rob Lee:I pay attention.
Rob Lee:I'll be looking at your site. It'll be okay.
Melanie Royster:I love that. Pay pay attention. I feel like people wanna pay attention when I post a pretty picture. I'm like, y'all could pay attention to when I post my art as well. I'm a start posting the pretty picture and then right after I post the art and talk about it, so you guys pay attention.
Rob Lee:So this this question is a little bit of a deviation, but it still goes within sort of, I think, the life and art where they intersect. So is there something that you've done in your daily routine or or art practice, sort of the day to day, that you never thought would be essential to your work? Like, I'm now doing this now. Like, you know, for instance, back in the day, I this more I used to I dropped this off. I used to go through I would have the tea there and I would gargle salt water and all those to get get, you know, get the mouth and all of that.
Rob Lee:I don't do any of that now. It's like working out without stretching. Yeah. I'm just going right into it. But what's something that you've you've added or something you've picked up over the last, like, 5 years that initially you weren't really doing that, but now it's like, this is integral.
Melanie Royster:I don't overwork myself anymore. I feel like we think that if we're not busy all the time that we're not doing anything, and I will say rest is important. I was doing that and I was sick all the time. I was sick all the time. I wasn't working out.
Melanie Royster:I wasn't doing other things that were important to me. I've been resting way more. I sometimes take half a day as I do. I'm, like, really productive for hours at a time, and then I'm, like, it's time to rest. And I used to feel guilty for resting, and I'm, like, no.
Melanie Royster:I love it now. And I feel like as a byproduct, I when I am productive, I'm actually more productive. I'm not tired all the time. So rest. I've been resting way more than I did before.
Melanie Royster:I used to be like on crack. Can I say crack?
Rob Lee:Oh, you can say whatever you want.
Melanie Royster:Like, I used to just be on the go all the time, and I'm just glad that I'm not necessarily doing that. I could still do a lot better, but rest is something that I've definitely been doing a lot more of.
Rob Lee:With the possibility of misattributing who it is, I I won't mention, but I do remember this quote about when people are, like, super busy busy busy, and I'm particularly creative. Mhmm.
Melanie Royster:And Artists need time to, like, let, like, thoughts come in. I actually like silence a lot too, like, before I moved to where I moved now, I used to not even have a TV at my place. I used to sit in silence, like, a lot. It was either music or silence, and it did a lot for my mental. If you could sit in silence for hours at a time, it does a lot for your mental.
Melanie Royster:You could start getting your thoughts straight. You're letting ideas come in, inspiration come in. If we just have busy minds all the time, especially how we're overstimulated off of social media Mhmm. You need to sit in silence sometimes. Even if it's just jazz music or anything like that.
Melanie Royster:I need to get back to the jazz music, actually. I used to play jazz music a lot.
Rob Lee:Well well, I have a new question.
Melanie Royster:Maybe because I'm not using Alexa no more. I used
Rob Lee:to be
Melanie Royster:able to just tell her to play jazz music, but, yeah.
Rob Lee:But that's that's a good point. I get up super early in the morning. Like, this morning, I got up at quarter 5. Went out for a walk, run, weights, all of that stuff, do all of my physical stuff early. But on that walk, whether it's a 30 minute, 60 minute sort of walk, I always have my notepad with me because that's when I'm getting ideas because the mind is still in there.
Rob Lee:There's You know, you gotta, you know, keep an eye out, you know, for Black Ice, especially this part of the year, but, you know, there's no distractions there. There's less cars out there, and it's sort of a a piece, a serenity that's there. And you get some of the ambient noise, but really, it's whatever you're choosing. So I have an audiobook going or to your point, I might have some jazz or something going that that is part of this soundtrack, but it's ultimately being open to kind of like this is a thinking period. This is using the remnants of that dream material.
Rob Lee:Mhmm. Because there's some creativity that's there. It's just like, alright, you better scrape the pot for this creativity. Yeah. And write it down, capture it.
Melanie Royster:Exactly. And and doing new things like I feel like artists, they feel like they just have to be whether it's their home studio or studio and they feel like they have to be there all day, whatever. Going to the museum, hanging out with your friends, actually, when it's warmer out, like, just taking a nature walk, like, going doing different things, even trying something new creatively, because especially if you're monetizing your creativity, trying something else that's creative that you're not necessarily making money off of, I think is also important too. So just I don't know. We need to spend time even traveling, like, just like, you know, doing things that doesn't always just feel productive all the time.
Melanie Royster:Because we are creatives, like, we have to also live kind of creative lives too for it to, you know, flourish. But there's a balance there because it's like I need to make money so that I could keep doing Yeah. So there's a balance there's a balance that we all have to figure out, but
Rob Lee:As a person that still does the the day job and, you know, the funds does, I'm like the day job is the fun to make sure you remember that Rob. It's it's that reminder because it's like I like facets of what I do, but mostly it's too fun doing this. And it's always been that way for the now 16 years I've been a podcaster. Yeah. It's sort of like, you know, microphones ain't free, you know.
Rob Lee:So these microphones let go kaput. I gotta have something that brings it in. I gotta have insurance, things of that nature. But your your point around travel, that's the thing that I find when I do interviews after I've come back from a trip or something, my perspective is different. I have new questions and new insights, just new pathways on how I'm thinking, and sometimes I'll even insert observations I've made in these other cities or conversations I've had with folks.
Melanie Royster:There's been some trips especially out of the country when I come back the art is like insane. Like, that happens quite often. Even even when it's not even out of the country like, I did a commission like later on the year last year, in California, and I feel like even just being in a different space to create did wonders, and that was probably one of my favorite pieces last year. So, like, I don't know. Travel for me, especially because I started traveling at a young age, like, literally born in DC, and then 3 months later, I was taken to Jamaica for, like, my baptism.
Melanie Royster:So, like, I was traveling a lot from a young age, and seeing just, like, something different than just America, which I feel like kind of opened my eyes very young.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Melanie Royster:So travel for sure. Just so you could feel like you could just connect more with people in general. Because in all actuality, Americans are made up of all different types of people. So to, like, traveling to other places, you could still connect with people here. Because if you travel to, you know, places in Africa, places in South America, so on, there's people here who are literally with the same background.
Melanie Royster:So, you know, it it helps you better understand and serve the people in your community too. Because we're all made, especially in DC, we're all made up of so many different cultures and things.
Rob Lee:Yeah. Makes sense. And it's almost a good segue. Actually, it's a really good segue to sort of this next question. I think this is a shorter question, but this next question so we we talk about finances and all of that stuff, but outside of sort of financial support.
Rob Lee:Right? What kind of support has meant the most to you in your art career?
Melanie Royster:Really just this honestly, I'm very blessed, like, the supportive community. I feel like people talk about community a lot, and there really is no community. I feel like it's just like a word, like any other word that's being used Yes. A lot, but I do truly have community, like, every day there's somebody that send me, like, oh, this opportunity made me think of you, like, literally this day, like, today. Someone sent me, like, 2 opportunities for, like, art residencies.
Melanie Royster:They're, like, this made me think of you, and that's, like, often, like, people really believe in, like, what I'm doing. I think they see that I'm, you know, I'm not just doing this for bad reasons. I'm really doing this to, like, I don't know, make the world a better place. So literally every day, people are saying my names in rooms I'm not in Yeah. Or they're sending me opportunities, or they're just saying kind things all the time.
Melanie Royster:So really community, but also just like people who are kinda mentors, they don't see themselves as mentors. I have some artists that I really look up to, and it's having, like, them that, like, really gatekeeping, like, they're I'm, like, I'm going through this. Like, what would you have done? And this is stuff they probably went through, like, 2, 3 years ago, so it's, like, not new to them, And, I could go to them and have those conversations. So and then peers.
Melanie Royster:So, like, people that are kinda, like, we're in the same space, you know, we're kind of doing the same opportunities, having that support amongst each other. I'm not competing against anybody. Right. I feel like a lot of artists who have, like, this competitor mindset, yeah, you're gonna feel really lonely because you feel like you have to compete with your peers. Right.
Melanie Royster:When people at the top are collaborating. I'm sorry. We're not I'm I'm not competing. Anybody who brings up competition or they're comparing me to another artist, I'm like, I'm not this that's not my ministry. I'm not competing against anybody.
Rob Lee:And it's a scarcity mindset in my head where, you know, I've had that and I'm kind of being trying to use all of my adult adulting Mhmm. To not be completely like, yo, I could just roast you because there you know, it's always some goofy competitor situation. And I'm like, I don't really, you know, wanna be in this sort of back and forth, but reputation is key in all of these different things, and that's where it's a little like you're not even competing, you're trying to undermine what I'm doing, which is a little different. And I'm not engaging in competition because I don't think it's worthwhile. It makes both of us look stupid.
Melanie Royster:And people are confused when there are certain artists that are winning all the time. It's because they they're feeding into other artists too. I have peers who are literally kind of the same space, who are curating things, oh, be a part of this or they're even referring me, or they're plugging me into their network too as well, like, oh, you need to meet someone so especially with minorities, women, like queer community, black community, all that. We need more creatives and artists, if anything, especially because they always lead revolutions. Artists always lead revolutions.
Melanie Royster:So like this competitor mindset, we need to push that to the side and actually come together and work together and share resources. Well said. So This I don't even remember the question it happened.
Rob Lee:No no no no no. It's it's good. It's good. We were talking about the community. Yeah.
Rob Lee:So this one is in and I think it definitely is is sort of like a nice follow-up to it, and I got like 2 more real questions after it. So Robert Greene, 40 year loss of power, right? He he says and to paraphrase, it's like who you're around rubs off on you, right? So like if you're around insecure people, oh man I don't feel super secure about myself right now. How have, like, different places and those sort of different communities, even being in different cities or you sort of tighten up tight knit or even wider groups, how does that, like, shaped your artistic outlook or maybe the direction of how you go about your work?
Rob Lee:Because you mentioned the the mentors.
Melanie Royster:Are you talking about and I'll ask if you ask the question again because you ask the question and then I focus on one word and then I forget everything else you just asked. Sorry.
Rob Lee:How has, how so the communities or the groups that you, like, spend amount your amount of time in, like, how is, like, being in those groups? Well, let's say you're around people who are making really interesting art. How is, like, that rubbed off on you in the direction of how you go about your work?
Melanie Royster:It just makes me, like, again, just wanna get, like, get busy, get, you know, get my hands dirty, like, especially when I went to, this past Art Basel out in Miami. I was around such, like, just like a rap like around a lot of talent, and I got lucky to do, like, some VIP days, for, the fairs that are out on the beach. Yeah. And the art I saw and the conversations I was having, it's it's just so different. Like, these are people, not only just, like, great artists, but they know our history, and they're, like, art nerds, and they just talk about things that just make me feel really seen and make my heart flutter because it's, like, oh, wow.
Melanie Royster:Like, because there's a different but there's there's a difference. When you know a art nerd that's a artist as well, there's just something so special about the work, and you could see it in their work, and their attention to detail, and so on, and it just makes I just wanted to go back home and paint. So just being in those communities, it just, it feel it's like fulfilling to be a part of those communities because that means you're doing the right thing, especially if it's other like like minded people, and they're very successful at what they're doing too. Because it because a lot of times it it you can look out in the world and see that, like, people are not doing such great things, but they're still successful. Like, I've had my art stolen from me.
Melanie Royster:And it's like, at that time, I wasn't, you know, that well known, and as she's stealing my art, she's getting the 100000 views, and it's, like, people are, like, it's so beautiful and so on. It's just like, I know there's a lot of artists like that too that are just not creating authentically. They just wanna do whatever is trending or so on so they can make money.
Rob Lee:Mhmm.
Melanie Royster:But, it's something so special seeing artists who are truly authentic in what they're doing. They really know, like, about art, the history of art, why it's important, and then they're super successful at it. It just feels I feel seen. I feel like you don't have to sell your soul to be successful, you know. So that I think that was the biggest thing that I took away, just being in spaces with people that are just doing their thing and just being authentically the
Rob Lee:That's great.
Melanie Royster:Yeah.
Rob Lee:And actually, you kinda you kinda covered a second question, so that's great. I was like, an example you gave me was. That's great. So I got one more real question, but I definitely wanna chime in on one thing. You know, as a as a person that does this, like, not an artist or have you?
Rob Lee:I used to do illustration back in the day and all of that. And I find, like, finding your people and, like, being around, like, when I'm around, like, a black nerd, it does, like, multiple things. Like, yeah, you get it. You get all of it. Mhmm.
Rob Lee:And it's just like we we connect and it's like, yo, here's my cell phone. We should get coffee sometime outside of this podcast scope, and that's actually building. And I find that because of social media and so on, as a byproduct, we lost that. We don't do the face to face.
Melanie Royster:Trying to get better at that because I kind of, stepped away from doing a lot of things in person because I was overdoing it at one point Sure. To the point where I had to kinda do the opposite to, like, like, I don't have to just be on the go go go because, like, that's, like, how one time I got, like, in a car accident because I was just going from one pop up to the next pop, so I had to, like, shift. But I kinda lost a little bit of, like, going to other artists, like, exhibitions or their shows, and so like, I wanna get back to, like, actually going to, like, just how people come and support me for my events, like, going to see other artist events and so on. So, like, I wanna get back into that. I lost that a little bit, especially now, because I'm, like, it's winter.
Melanie Royster:It's cold. I'm a little ducked off. This is the time where I usually create the most, which is funny because winter doesn't necessarily inspire me. If you look at my work, a lot of it feels warm and so on. Sure.
Melanie Royster:But, this is the time, especially for me. I tend to get more like my brand projects with someone closer to spring, where this time I have way more time. I mean, there's really not way more time, but more time to just stay inside and create, so that's also a thing. I usually pop out literally when it gets warmer out.
Rob Lee:So, you're blue?
Melanie Royster:Essentially, I feel like I definitely go off of the seasons. Yeah. I definitely am an artist that goes off the seasons. I noticed the same trend every single year, which is good. So, I know what to prepare for.
Melanie Royster:There's still different things I'm learning as I go, but there is certain things that I noticed that stay consistent every year for me, depending on the seasons.
Rob Lee:That tracks. And, you know, I I don't go to too many things. I make the point to folks. I'm like, yo, if I showed up.
Melanie Royster:Yeah.
Rob Lee:Like, I I rocks with you because I you know, I'm not trying to be the person that's there. I really rally against the notion of being an influencer from the lane that I'm in. Like, if you pop up everything, you got some goofy fiddle, and you're playing a caricature. That's not really the thing that I do. I try to show up for the people that I admire, and I really dig their work.
Rob Lee:And it shows up also in sort of maybe the folks that I've reached out for in doing this this this sort of series. And, you know, it's like, hey. I can show up for 20 minutes. I can show up for an hour, or I could just, like, be there, but I think scarcity is the thing for me. And I just remember before I move to his last question, I just remember I went to one of my buddies.
Rob Lee:He had his 7th anniversary at this restaurant. And I'm there and, you know, it's just like I got a name I got a drink when the menu is named after me. So I'm like, I'm a little bit. So I'm like, yeah. And, I just remember it's like,
Rob Lee:oh my god, that's Rob. I was like, oh
Rob Lee:no, no, no. I'm not comfortable with that level of attention. Right? And someone came to me, they they DM'd me later, and he was like, yeah. You know, you didn't really seem like you were into it.
Rob Lee:I was like, oh, well, I was overstimuloid. I'm not I mean, overstimulated. I'm not on like that. Like, I'm a real person. So learning that of I can't go to each one of these things.
Rob Lee:There was an instance where I went to 4 different, like, shows in a night, and I was like, this is a bit much. And sometimes the social thing it's like, oh, you do a podcast. You talk to people. I was like, yeah. Those are very different.
Melanie Royster:Different. Different for sure.
Rob Lee:I'm in a room with one other person on Zoom with one other person.
Melanie Royster:Yeah.
Rob Lee:So here here's the last question I got. Last real question. And I got now 4 rapid fire questions for you though.
Melanie Royster:Okay.
Rob Lee:So here's the last one. As we look to the future, you know, the next fixed, within the next year.
Melanie Royster:Okay.
Rob Lee:What's the next next thing for you? What's the next big step? What are you looking forward to in 2025?
Melanie Royster:Okay. 2025, this Q1 especially, I've been noticing just way more exhibitions. Even, more recently, I got accepted to my 1st international exhibition, which is nice. So, I'm looking forward to just seeing my art showcase more and being able to just talk to people about my art, which I just don't get to do, and I don't Instagram is not necessarily the place to do it as much, unless I just get on a reel and just start talking, which I'm not doing because I get such short amount of time, and then I get worked up. Like, I wanna be able to just talk about, like, do artist talks and panels and all the things.
Melanie Royster:I'm looking forward to just talking more, because I still cringe at it. I've been quiet majority of my life. So, like, just talking. Talking more, and just I don't know. That's like a really great question.
Melanie Royster:I'm just looking forward to more.
Rob Lee:Yeah. I mean, we we have audio. We have this video. We have this audio out there. I mean, you're gonna be out there.
Rob Lee:You know? I'll just share, like, I'll just share clips to you. I'm just like, so here you go. Nolan, here's one clip. Here's another clip.
Rob Lee:It's like, can you stop sending me excerpts of the podcast that hasn't been released yet? It's like they're trying to help you get used to your own
Rob Lee:voice. Yeah.
Rob Lee:Probably always helping artists. Alright, so thank you. And here's some rapid fire questions for you. So as I tell people all the time, you don't wanna overthink this.
Melanie Royster:Okay. Well,
Rob Lee:whatever is the the shortest answer you got. What I said is what I said. Alright. So I've heard that, a lot of times, like, art can be either an obsession or talent. Which one is it for you?
Rob Lee:It's like when someone says obsession it's like, I gotta keep working. It was like, I'm just so good. I don't have to work that often. My talent is better than the output that I'm putting in.
Melanie Royster:Can I say both? Okay. Because the obsession is not really like, oh, I have to like work all the time. But I'm just like obsessed now, like how art can just like change a lot of things right now. So, more of obsession just wanting to know more.
Rob Lee:Sure.
Melanie Royster:But it does tie in with my art, and there's a talent there, like sometimes I am surprised by the things I create.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Melanie Royster:I I will say, because I start, you know how it's the ugly stage at first, and then when you finish I finish it I'm like, I created that and, like, sometimes my friends remind me, like, my friends, like, you know, like, you know this is insane that you painted this. Right? Like, this is crazy and I don't really I don't think about it until they until somebody reminds me and I'm like, yeah, that is that is kind of insane that I did just paint that. I would say it's kind of both.
Rob Lee:Okay. So blame. That's fine. Yeah. When was the last time you Googled yourself?
Melanie Royster:Last time I Googled myself, probably like a month ago, because I'm trying to get I'm trying to see if the Google Ads are working. I don't even know I feel like such a boomer when it comes to, like, the marketing and, like, trying to figure out the monetization tools, like, on social media stuff. I'm like, what is happening?
Rob Lee:I hear you.
Melanie Royster:So, I did Google myself, but it's mainly, like, to see, like, if my ads and stuff or, like, like, for the traffic purposes with my website, but it's funny because I do Google myself, and now it's like a mix of my art stuff, and I used to play basketball too, so you'll still see like VCU basketball player, or like even stuff from like high school with basketball. I did
Rob Lee:see that.
Melanie Royster:So, it's funny seeing like a mix of like who I used to be like in college and so on, and I was in art school too in college, but, now to you you start to see a blend of both like what's now and then like my basketball stuff is funny.
Rob Lee:Mhmm. So here's here's the next one. This is a penultimate one if you will. Right now what color is speaking to you? What is your, like, favorite color at this moment?
Melanie Royster:Surprisingly purple. I've been, like, so my favorite color is green, but I've been I've been noticing in my artwork lately there's been a lot of purple. A lot of purple, the figures are purple, and I don't know because I tend not to just paint, like, people of color, black people, black women, just brown. Mhmm. Because there's more to us than just our skin color.
Melanie Royster:So I tend I'll paint people green, blue, purple, all the things, but I've been noticing I've been using purple quite often. A mix of like the purple and the greens. I've been noticing that a lot. Where I like it because when we talk about ancestors, purple is a very regal color. It does, you know, signify royalty and so on.
Melanie Royster:So
Rob Lee:Makes sense. Okay. Here's the last one and this is a nice culmination. It's kind of a bit, just so you know.
Melanie Royster:Okay.
Rob Lee:You talk about being serious earlier. Right? Yeah. What are you unserious about? Just one thing that you're unserious about.
Melanie Royster:I don't know. Like, I feel like Yeah. I said I'm more serious, but I guess at the same time I could still be a very unserious person. Like, I'm goofy, so on, but one thing that I'm unserious about, I don't even know because I'm too serious. Now, I need to loosen up.
Melanie Royster:I need to loosen up of them wound tight because navigating this art world is a lot, so I just been getting more serious. So, yeah. I can't even answer that because I need to calm down.
Rob Lee:Something like that.
Melanie Royster:And let loose.
Rob Lee:It's almost like being unserious about your seriousness.
Melanie Royster:I think that's I think that's it. Like sometimes I look back and I'm like, you know, I'll be in like serious meetings or you know, certain things and I'm like, am I really doing because I still feel like a child sometimes, so yeah. I think I'm serious about how serious I'm being, like, I think it's definitely that, like, for sure.
Rob Lee:No. No. No.
Melanie Royster:That's the way to word
Rob Lee:it. That that works. So, that's it. You're off the hot seat, and, and thank you for making some time to come back onto the podcast.
Melanie Royster:Thank you.
Rob Lee:And, we'll we'll close out there. Because I already got my thing recorded. And there you have it, folks. I wanna again thank Melanie Royster for coming back onto the podcast so we can catch up. It's it's been a little while, so very fortunate for this conversation.
Rob Lee:And for Melanie Royster, I am Rob Lee saying that there's art, culture and community in and around your neck of the woods. You've just gotta look
Melanie Royster:for it.
