Her new series of oil paintings of Mustangs are a successful aesthetic experimentation detailing only the integral elements of the horse.

Her spare painting style in this series uses oil freely and fluently. The loose brush strokes are swift and judicious. There is boldness in style and color and great appeal in their simplicity and freedom of execution. Melissa has chosen subtly to leave areas incomplete.

Mattis has studied illustration at The Academy of Art College in San Francisco, California, and her sculpture, "She's Got Legs", won an award in sculpture at the 2002 Western States Horse Expo equine art exhibit. She will again exhibit at the 2003 Horse Expo. The Mustang Series will be on exhibit, June 21-22, 2003, at the Marin Art Festival in San Rafael, California. For information visit www.MarinArtFestival.com