Melissa Stephens Art

My One Little Word in 2024 has been PLAY and what a joy ride we’ve had together! With PLAY as my lens, I have seen clearly and appreciated deeply the moments when I am happily engaged in the things I love: when I’m interlocking jigsaw pieces into a neat, colorful puzzle and when I’m smudging charcoals sticks into a messy, black & white drawing; when I’m methodically gathering rocks to build a cairn and when I’m spontaneously challenging my oldest son to a sack race (he won); when I’m cheering loudly with a huge crowd at a sporting event and when I’m walking quietly with my thoughts in the woods; when I lose myself browsing in an art gallery or antique shop and when I find myself laughing at a funny movie meant for children; when I’m actively participating in games and golf and trivia with my family and when I’m quietly retreating in a comfy chair with coffee and a book; when I’m frolicking joyfully, creating angels in the bright, white snow and when I’m standing reverently, gazing at Northern Lights in the dark, night sky; when I’m composing an artistic photo and when I’m splattering paint onto a canvas; for me, it’s all PLAY. From the PLAYlist of upbeat tunes I created on Spotify, to the PLAY-book of photos and memories from the year I’m assembling, to the PLAY-group of artists I gather with each month, to the PLAYground I continue to discover in my studio and my life, PLAY has been an amazing catalyst for fun and creativity this year. I will miss it! But I’ve chosen a new word for 2025, CURIOSITY, and I can’t wait to see where it will lead me!

I’m sharing (below) my PLAYful adaptation of the lyrical verse of Clement C. Moore’s, “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” I fondly remember my mom reading this poem to me as a child every Christmas Eve and I hope my children fondly remember me reading it to them on Christmas Eves as well. I re-imagined it into a contemporary, fantastical delivery of some of the things I love best, art supplies. May your holidays be filled with the merry, magic, and PLAY!

“The Delivery!”

T’was the eve post Black Friday, the studio a hush
Not an art supply was stirring, not even a brush.
The canvases were stacked, by the wall with care
In hopes The Delivery, soon would be there.
I was nestled all cozy, and snug in my chair
Remembering those cyber sales, no postage, I swear!
Having just finished scrolling my IG app
I’d then settled in, for a retirement nap.
When through Happy Valley, there arose such a clatter
My husband checked Twitter (now X), to see what was the matter.
Upstairs to the Loft, I flew like a flash
Raised first the blinds, and then the sash.
The crisp winter air, danced with flakes of white snow
Like the splatters of gesso, I sometimes throw.
When what to my creativity-craving eyes should appear
But a convoy of delivery trucks, that gave me great cheer!
Our dog commenced barking, alerting us quick
I calmed her by saying, “It’s packages from Dick Blick!”
With the traction of Goodyear, their tires they came
As they screeched to a halt, I called them by name.
Now, USPS! Now, FedEx! Now, UPS! Now, Sleigh?
On, Box Truck! On, Mail Truck! Oh my, what a great day!
With the mystical artistry of the great Marc Chagall
They drove my way, drove my way, drove my way all!
As sparks that before creative inspiration do fly
In a rush to start making, lest they pass me right by.
Then into the cul-de-sac, the deliverers they flew
As I heard myself whisper, “What can Brown do for you?”
And then, in a twinkling, I remembered that time
I’d spent placing orders, on Amazon Prime.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around
Out of their vehicles, the drivers came with a bound.
They were all dressed for work, in their spiffy uniform
Though on closer inspection, they appeared haggard and worn.
Carrying towers of packages, boxes, and bows
They skillfully balanced them all, like pros.
I imagined the art supplies, hidden inside
Considered the credit card charges, then gave a great sigh.
There’d be loads of paints, gloriously saturated hues
Acrylics and watercolors, maybe even some glue?
Markers, and pastels, a brayer to roll
Paper in all sizes, yes, hopefully even some (char)coal.
I’d ordered most joyfully, and in such great haste
Who knew, did I remember the modeling paste?
Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir would be proud
I now had enough product, to host an art-loving crowd!
As tall as Mt. Crumpet, my goodies were stacked
Why even a new easel, waited anxiously to be unpacked.
I worried a moment, with my mountain of treasure
Did I have enough storage space? I never did measure.
One driver’s wry smile, it lit up his eyes
I relaxed then, with joy, for these new art supplies.
Returning to their trucks, to their horns gave a toot
While I gleefully shouted an exultant, “Woot Woot!”
Yet I heard them exclaim, ere they turned out the drive
Merry Christmas to you, may your creativity thrive!