kouiras

Work samples

Eyes Ahead

6 x 4", acrylic on canvas in vintage molding frame

Available for Purchase

inquire at [email protected]
Trees in Fall on edge of field

10" x 12" acrylic on canvas - Sturdy trees in early fall with cloudless sky and leaves on the ground

Available for Purchase

contact artist directly
Veil
27th & Greenmount, Baltimore

Available for Purchase

Please email [email protected] for a custom-made print.

About

Melisa Peterson Lewis is a science and speculative fiction author who loves answering weird questions in prose. She has published the Lazarus City and Somnus series and several short stories in anthologies. You can usually find her writing, gardening, or jamming at concerts.

View 's Resume

Faces of February 2025

The early part of 2025 brought so much uncertainty, stress, and anguish. Politics and world events left me (and many of us) reeling every time I engaged with the news, scrolled social media, or simply just left my house. For a few weeks, I felt compelled to paint a face each day. For most of them, I tried to use a very limited number brushstrokes as a way to stay loose and to keep this to a defined project that would fit in my day. I found it therapeutic and rewarding. Looking back, I can tell from the reference images I selected and the resulting paintings that these daily faces were in many ways manifesting the emotions about the volatile world that I was having a hard time naming and expressing in the moment.

Becoming Untitled

8 x 10", acrylic on canvas in painted vintage molding frame

Available for Purchase

inquire at [email protected]
Is This It?

16 x 20", acrylic on canvas in painted vintage molding frame

Available for Purchase

inquire at [email protected]
Reframe

12 x 16", acrylic on canvas in painted vintage molding frame

Available for Purchase

inquire at [email protected]
Rest & Reset

12 x 16", acrylic on canvas in painted vintage molding frame

Available for Purchase

inquire at [email protected]
A Piece of Me

4 x 5", acrylic on canvas in vintage molding frame

Available for Purchase

inquire via email [email protected]
Breaking Point

16 x 12", acrylic on canvas in vintage molding frame

Available for Purchase

inquire at [email protected]
Eyes Ahead

6 x 4", acrylic on canvas in vintage molding frame

Available for Purchase

inquire at [email protected]

S03 E02 "Brought to you by..." | Play About Ads + Influence

S03 E02 "Brought to you by..." | Play About Ads + Influence - Complete episode

Danny Joe's Tree House keeps getting interrupted by Kingsley's new sponsor, Sack O’ Sugar! Danny Joe is getting frustrated, but he uses the interruptions as an opportunity to show us examples of ads from both the past and present, featuring sports and entertainment personalities, and even toys. Along the way, we learn how to spot different types of commercials and the advertising tricks used to sell us stuff. Learning how to spot these techniques helps kids to make their own thoughtful choices and understand the influence of media.

S03 E02 "Brought to you by..." | Play About Ads + Influence

Onlooker Series

Rei

24x26

Augmented reality print

2019
Nova

24x36

Augmented reality print

2019
Raven

24x36

Augmented Reality Print

2019
Khadija

24x36

Augmented Reality Print

2019

Traumatized II & Self love Series

Traumatized continued.

Portrait X

Mixed Media - Coffee, watercolor, handmade paper on watercolor paper

33" x 42"
Self Love I

33" x 42"

Mixed Media and collage on Paper
Self Love II

33" x 42"

Mixed media, Collage on Paper
Chicks as Tricks I

Chicks as Tricks

Mixed Media - Coffee, watercolor, handmade paper

12" x 16"
Chicks as Tricks II

Chicks as Tricks

Mixed Media - Coffee, watercolor, handmade paper

12" x 16"
Chicks as Tricks III

Chicks as Tricks

Mixed Media - Coffee, watercolor, handmade paper

12" x 16"
Chicks as Tricks IV

Chicks as Tricks

Mixed Media - Coffee, watercolor, handmade paper

12" x 16"
Chicks as Tricks V

Chicks as Tricks

Mixed Media - Coffee, watercolor, handmade paper

12" x 16"

2024 Hand-colored linocuts

Last year I completed seven more hand-colored linocuts to go with the 8 that were done in 2023. Together they formed to basis for the book "Circularity," in which the linocuts are paired with haiku by Boston poet Karen Klein.

These linocuts were initiated to augment "Planets," a series of tondo watercolors. Each Planet painting has a sky observed while traveling surrounded by a border that reflects a decorative arts pattern indicative of the area traveled. The linocuts are also mostly circular, but all of the elements are derived from historic decorative arts elements, for instance a Roman mosaic, a Sephardic Haggadah and an ancient Greek painted pitcher.

In 2024 the sources for the new linocuts included a soumak flatware carpet, Puritan-era tombstones and early 19th-century cut glass made in Pittsburgh.

Bakewell

This print was adapted from cut glass manufactured in Pittsburgh, and other cities along the Ohio River, c. 1815-40. Bakewell firm was among the best known makers.

June 2024, Image 7 7/8" across on 10" x 11" Rives light weight buff paper, editor 20 with 5 proofs

Available for Purchase

$250
Soumak

This hand-colored linocut was adapted from a c.1900-20 soumak flat weave carpet from Caucasus region.

June 2024, Image 7 7/8" across on 10" x 11" Rives light weight buff paper, editor 20 with 5 proofs

Available for Purchase

$250
Almora

This hand-colored linocut was adapted from carved wood panels decorating the exterior of houses in the northern Indian city of Almora

Adapted from wood panels decorating the exterior of houses in the northern Indian city of Almora.

July 2024, image 7 7/8" across on 10" x 11" Rives light weight buff paper, edition 20 with 5 proofs

Available for Purchase

$250
Acanthus

This hand-colored linocut was adapted from carvings on early 19th century American table, chest of drawers and a mirror.

"Acanthus," July 2024, 7 7/8" across, edition 20 with 5 poofs.

Available for Purchase

$250
Puritan

This hand-colored linocut was adapted from 18th-century tombstones in eastern New England.

"Puritan," July 2024, 7 7?8" across, first edition with the center eye of 20 with 5 proofs

Available for Purchase

$250
Mughal

This hand-colored linocut was adapted from parts of the Red Fort, Agra, India. The fort has built in the 16th century and occupied by Mughal emperors. I visited the Red fort and the Taj Mahal at the end of my PECAH artist residency in 2016.

"Mughal," Sept. 2024, 7 7/8" across, edition 20 with 5 proofs.

Available for Purchase

$250
gorgon

This hand-colored linocut was adapted marble fencing post outside Baltimore's early 19th-century Basilica of the Assumption. The name "Gorgon" was used because the design reminded me of the Greek myth of the Gorgons, three sisters who were often represented as having hair of snakes.

"Gorgon," Oct. 2024,7 7/8" across, edition 20 with 5 proofs on RIVES lightweight buff paper

Available for Purchase

$250

Portraiture

The figure is a favorite subject and particularly the face.

Under the Big Top

Available for Purchase
Tori

Available for Purchase
Bite Me

Prismacolor drawing
Carousel

Acrylic

Available for Purchase
Blondie

Acrylic on board
Gene Kelly and Katherine Gray

Acrylic
Headphones

Acrylic

Available for Purchase
Julien

Acrylic

Available for Purchase
Meghan Krauss

Acrylic
Riae

Acrylic

Available for Purchase

Onlooker Series

Rei

24x26

Augmented reality print

2019
Nova

24x36

Augmented reality print

2019
Raven

24x36

Augmented Reality Print

2019
Khadija

24x36

Augmented Reality Print

2019

Cat Island crankie

Cat Island is a shadow puppet crankie (see definition below).

Cat Island (2024) This crankie is an exploration of our history with cats, including a true life account of a dubious business venture on the Eastern shore of Maryland Involving a Black Cat fur farm in the mid 1800's! This crankie has humor, dark moments, suspense, and a happy ending. Music composed by Georgia Beatty.

All papercut artwork on the scroll is hand-cut. This piece is normally shared live and in person in a darkened room.

*A crankie or moving panorama is a scroll of artwork in a box, often illustrating a story or song that it is performed with. The ream of paper, tyvek, or fabric is rolled around 2 posts, which is then pulled across the front, much like film in an old camera.

Cat Island crankie

Cat Island (2024) This crankie is an exploration of our history with cats, including a true life account of a dubious business venture on the Eastern shore of Maryland Involving a Black Cat fur farm in the mid 1800's! This crankie has humor, dark moments, suspense, and a happy ending. Music composed by Georgia Beatty.
Cat Island crankie

Cat Island (2024) This crankie is an exploration of our history with cats, including a true life account of a dubious business venture on the Eastern shore of Maryland Involving a Black Cat fur farm in the mid 1800's! This crankie has humor, dark moments, suspense, and a happy ending. Music composed by Georgia Beatty.
Cat Island crankie- Cats watching fish playing in phosphorescent waters of the bay

Cat Island (2024) This crankie is an exploration of our history with cats, including a true life account of a dubious business venture on the Eastern shore of Maryland Involving a Black Cat fur farm in the mid 1800's! This crankie has humor, dark moments, suspense, and a happy ending. Music composed by Georgia Beatty.
Cat Island crankie

Cat Island (2024) This crankie is an exploration of our history with cats, including a true life account of a dubious business venture on the Eastern shore of Maryland Involving a Black Cat fur farm in the mid 1800's! This crankie has humor, dark moments, suspense, and a happy ending. Music composed by Georgia Beatty.

Africa

Cheetah Profile

Masai, Mara, Kenya, Africa-2024

Available for Purchase

Please email me at [email protected] with your purchase request, including size, matting, frame etc.
Climbing Baby Gorilla

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda, Africa

Available for Purchase

Please email me at [email protected] with your purchase request, including size, matting, frame etc.
Giraffe

Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa

Available for Purchase

Please email me at [email protected] with your purchase request, including size, matting, frame etc.
Cheetah Catch

This Cheetah caught a young Thompson Gazelle for dinner.

Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa

Available for Purchase

Please email me at [email protected] with your purchase request, including size, matting, frame etc.
Cub Play

Playful cubs in Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa -2024.

Available for Purchase

Please email me at [email protected] with your purchase request, including size, matting, frame etc.
Rino Run

Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa -2024

Available for Purchase

Please email me at [email protected] with your purchase request, including size, matting, frame etc.
Elephant Babe

Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa -2024

Available for Purchase

Please email me at [email protected] with your purchase request, including size, matting, frame etc.
The Thinker

Kibale National Park, Uganda

Available for Purchase

Please email me at [email protected] with your purchase request, including size, matting, frame etc.
Zebra Butts

Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa -2024

Available for Purchase

Please email me at [email protected] with your purchase request, including size, matting, frame etc.
Hippo Sunrise

Hippos fighting at sunrise

Asia Mara, Kenya, Africa -2024

Available for Purchase

Please email me at [email protected] with your purchase request, including size, matting, frame etc.