MELANIE HALL

Melanie Hall has always had a great love for nature and art. Born in California in 1960, she was an outdoor enthusiast before it became vogue. Her hiking and camping experiences in the American West and the close contacts she had with the wildlife of the region still inspires her work today.

Melanie pursued her artistic talents at a young age, winning painting competitions throughout her elementary and secondary education. Later she won several awards and scholarships, including 1st place State of California Junior Women’s Club Competition, 1st place National Pen Women's competition, Festival of Arts and Sawdust Festival scholarships.

After attending Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Melanie focused her work on wildlife subjects and participated in the Wildlife & Western Exhibit & Sale, and the Minnesota State Capitol Wildlife Art Show.

Melanie moved back to California in the early 90’s, raising three boys and painting from home as time allowed. She soon started doing freelance photography for The Katherine Delmar Burke school, Nueva School, Marin Primary, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, and the California Trial Lawyers Association. At the same time focusing on her nature photography, she has spent many years photographing the seasons on beautiful Mt.Tamalpais, and Marin parks. In more recent years she has been photographing nature and the bay in Sausalito. Awards include, 1st Place in Mill Valley Click Off Competition, Mill Valley Arts Commission juried photography show, Grand Prize Pacific Sun Magazine photography contest, and Google Glass Explorers Program. Covers of Sausalito Scope, Pet Setters Magazine, Pacific Sun Magazine; featured in Outside Magazine.

For over ten years she has had a studio in a shipyard in Sausalito. Where she has worked on large acrylic canvas paintings of wildlife, while continuing to do freelance and nature photography. She now resides on a houseboat in Sausalito.