Monterey Peninsula Art Foundation
Melissa McCluskey-Carlson
![]() “Beauty is to be found in everything. Photography is my creative outlet, a meditative process, in which patience and intuition is necessary when waiting for that “ah-ha” moment to capture with the click of a shutter button – it is my way of finding a deeper connection to life and an understanding of surrounding environments."
Beyond traditional photography methods, Melissa is also curious in finding new ways to express herself through photography. An example of this can be seen in a recently self published mini book that consists of a series of images taken with a homemade digital pinhole camera. Inspired by the 2020 stay at home mandated state orders, she has created an Instagram page where she frequently posts images accompanied with haiku – exploring the idea of creative instant gratification through social media.
I click my camera I write a little haiku Now, life makes more sense Melissa has earned a B.A. in Art Education from CSUSB. Art is a foundational passion that drives her. She is eager to share this passion with others. She currently works as an Education Specialist, M.A. (CSUSB) for a local k-12 school district. As an educator Melissa teaches students with the objective for them to become successful and confident in their own driven passions, whether it be art or something else. More of her photography and contact information can be found below: https://www.facebook.com/melissamccphotography https://www.instagram.com/these_days_575/ https://www.blurb.com/b/8971774-passing-through-a-pin-hole melissamccarlson@gmail.com |
California native, Melissa McCluskey, first became interested in the artistic medium of photography during her childhood years. She was a staff photographer for her high school’s newspaper and yearbook. Later, she studied the formalities of photography in the community college and university settings. Melissa has been a part of a vast art community in her hometown of Riverside California, and now looks forward to being a part of an art community in the Monterey Peninsula area.
Melissa shoots primarily in digital, but has an experience of the darkroom process. Her photography interests range in documentary, journalism, street, abstract, botanical and landscape photography; incorporating all into her photo travel adventures. She explores these interests through wide and close-up lenses. Her images are carefully balanced with symmetry or asymmetry. |