About the Artist

About Melody Allen

Pastel Sea and Landscape Artist

Melody O’Connor Allen is a pastel artist well-known for her landscapes of familiar Minnesota lakes and rivers, and her landscapes and wave studies created along the coast of California. Her formal education has been in the fields of medicine and surgery, completing Medical School at the University of California at Irvine. She studied the craft and science of surgery at the University of Minnesota, ultimately leading to a career as an Academic Surgeon in that same institution. While Melody has attended many classes teaching techniques of pastel and watercolor, her artwork is largely the result of years of independent study of original artworks in museums and galleries, and close observation of skilled artists as they worked. 

Melody’s works have received awards in the 43rd Annual Pastel Society of America show, several Merit Honors in the Lake Country Pastel Society shows, and first place in the Pastel Society of California annual show. Her art was first shown at the Edina Art Center and the Minnesota State Fair where she received a Merit Honor Award for a painting of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. She soon was invited to join other talented Midwestern artists at the esteemed Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis. During here time in California, Melody gained membership in the historic Art Club of California, and her works were shown in galleries in Irvine and Laguna Beach, California, and in Lahaina on the island of Maui. Family matters, including a new grandson, happily brought Melody back to Minneapolis several years ago.