About Melissa | Botanical Artist in Lancaster, PA
Melissa S Zane is a contemporary botanical artist specializing in modern floral paintings and nature-inspired art.
Her expressive work captures the organic beauty of the natural world through vibrant color palettes, rich textures, and elegant detail.
Based at the Lancaster Art Vault in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Melissa maintains a working studio and gallery where she creates original paintings and custom commissions. Her art blends fine art techniques with intuitive mark-making and a deep appreciation for nature.
Melissa’s work is sought after by art collectors, interior designers, and individuals looking for one-of-a-kind botanical artwork that brings warmth and sophistication to residential and commercial spaces.
A native of Lancaster County, PA, Melissa holds an MFA from the Academy of Art University in California and a BFA from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Though she began her artistic journey as a child doodling on everything in sight, she began selling her work professionally in 2017 and founded Melissa S Zane Studios LLC in 2021.
Melissa paints primarily in acrylic, often incorporating metallic finishes that reflect light and create dynamic viewing experiences. Her signature style fuses earth tones, organic shapes, and layered patterned textures to evoke the vitality and movement of the natural world.
Her studio is open by appointment to visitors and collectors interested in original botanical art, custom floral commissions, or mural projects.
Visit Melissa's Art Studio and Gallery
Lancaster Art Vault, 100 N. Queen St., 1st Floor, Lancaster, PA
Melissa's Artist Statement
Design in nature is the foundation of my artistic inspiration. I’m drawn to the vibrant colors of a flower, the contrast of textures revealed in black and white, the way sunlight dances on the edge of a petal, and the unexpected shadows cast by a stamen’s curve. The twisting of branches, the weathered burls of an old tree trunk, the curl of a single leaf—all of these natural elements contain a kind of quiet magic that I aim to capture. I frequently photograph what I observe and work from an extensive archive of reference imagery, using it as a springboard rather than a blueprint. My work is not purely realistic; it’s a synthesis of observation and imagination—where reality meets artistic license.
Working primarily in large-scale acrylic on canvas, I create organic interpretations of nature’s beauty. My paintings invite the viewer to look beyond the obvious and explore the design elements—pattern, texture, light, and form—that exist within the natural world. Earth tones, bursts of color against dark backgrounds, and the use of metallic paints are hallmarks of my work, highlighting the subtleties of light and movement as seen from different perspectives.
My process begins with a foundational base coat to establish space and tone. I then layer bold colors, add shadows and highlights, and finish with intricate details that bring each piece to life. The process is intuitive, evolving with each brushstroke, often leading to unexpected and expressive outcomes. I sign my initials only when the piece feels truly complete—when it has found its own voice.
