Melisse Copley

Kids, Teen, and Adults Art Instructor

Melisse Copley is a New York City artist and art educator who is known for her warmth, enthusiasm and love of all things “art”. Known most frequently to her students (of all ages) as LaLa, she has had a love affair with art since childhood. She even remembers her very first trip to an art museum and the small set of watercolors purchased for her there from the gift shop – her first art supplies! While Melisse creates and explores with a wide variety of art materials, her favorite art supplies to create art with are collage and painting.

The only thing Melisse enjoys doing more than creating her own artwork is creating artwork alongside other evolving artists, reminding them to tap into that same courage she still leans on when starting a new class or art project. She also believes that curiosity is key to enjoying the process (of art and life), and compassion is a “must” as we try new things and give ourselves room to grow and learn. Melisse firmly believes that the process of creating is the primary source of bliss, and she loves helping others to tap into the same level of joy through creating art.

While Melisse took a spin through corporate communications just out of college, she has always been drawn back to art. After she’d painted every room in their tiny house a different color, Melisse’s husband encouraged her to find another outlet for her creative energy. That’s when she started using watercolors again. Over the next ten years, she ran her own stationery company creating well over 1,000 designs along the way. Since that time, amid a move from Memphis, TN to Southern California, and then on to New York City, Melisse learned many new and exciting ways to create, realizing quickly that Matisse was right when he said, “Creativity takes courage.” A great lover of color, authentic self-expression, and the joy of creative mess, Melisse eagerly teaches students of all ages and backgrounds how to unlock their creative potential.