melissastrawser.art.mystery monthly

Melissa Strawser, 4th Generation Woman Artist, Intaglio Printmaking Artist, Strawser Studio

Mystery Prints began in 2019 for Memento Mori.
They grew with my (grandfather)ing loyal members
like this colorful tree 
 growth was for anticipation.

Hand-pulled narrative prints,
 each one made for a community that was lost;
they arrived as little surprises each month
 with mysterious titles creating surprising big pictures.
That connection for community was inspired for and by my 'folk art' family.

Mystery Prints will continue for discovery seekers.
as their diverse expert curation of  'one of kind art' .
I love making artist proofs and have done so since the age of 19.
There is genuine excitement in finding something unexpected 
in the mail and on the press

When you aspire to be someone who prioritizes beauty with creativity,
you're either a sophisticated collector OR 
 (nine times out of ten) your curiosity wants to begin your art journey, 
which is about mindfulness and quieting the noise.
Art took me there when I watched my mom paint.
It was my safe place, silencing the noise from the world.

Mystery Prints are collections from my unique artistic storytelling
they reflect an imperfect artist with an imperfect print drawer
building your communit, resonating like sun smiles, your peace amongst the noise

I invite you to join me and follow the new Monthly Mystery, available starting in 2026
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Learn more about what's in store for Mystery Monthly & Mystery Print Subscription:

Melissa Strawser revisits Portugal's Tavira Print Workshop after 6 years mastering experimental etching 
with late Bartolomeu cid dos Santos here.  Invitational 40th anniversary exhibit at Casa das Artes
 You can find her original drawing of a FROG on a mud floor in a small gallery in the Alentejo medieval village of Monsaraz near Evora 
2010 award/artist in residence Evora

Welcome.  I'm Melissa, a 4th generation artist, raised in a family setting with Folk artists having deep roots to studio art practice and our Pennsylvania Dutch German heritage and traditions.  I then trained with experimental printmaking artists as a Printmaker, after discovering Robert Blackburn who I learned alot from at the time.  Attending Slade School of Art, University College London,  I hold a Masters of Art in Printmaking (1993-95) under late Prof. Bartolomeu cid dos Santos & Stanley Jones of Curwen, who was a key figure in the revival of British post-war printmaking.  While curious, they both obliged to assist in taking my work to many surfaces for experimentation.
I print on canvas, wood, plastic and metal.  My favorite medium is Metal, and metal sculpture began for me about the same time as the love for Printmaking did.   My studio art practice is my life.  I make art, not necessarily how it's seen, but how I see it with a printmaking eye for color.  The most under-appreciated artists, like my mom, were the most generous in 'Henri' art spirit and I'm grateful to have this experience.  Together, we hold 70 yrs professional experience in creativity.  As a woman artist, she endured the possibilities for me and that made it appear doable and rewardable,  I continue those core beliefs for humanity, community and art.  My art is evolving, like hers, it remains raw, natural, without boundaries.  The everyday is of great value to my studio practice and it's sacred.  Thank you for letting me share my vision with you.   

My work resides in public & private collections abroad and throughout the US.  Intro's were made for me with many great artists since childhood.  My mom made a great one to Bertoia 30 yrs ago since our wings took flight.  Artist relationships are like meat and potatoes, they feed the hungry, heal the wounded and encourage this journey.  Slade School was a place without despair, a London hub that let me learn more about self-taught artists, my folk traditions, and printmaking techniques.  Slade and Bertoia were pivotal and contextual to my work, powerful pairings both personal and emotional.  I owe my life to the power of art.  My work developed into folk-fine art using a strong traditional technique known as intaglio printmaking.  I've always pulled artist proofs.  My working hands go to metal naturally, welding and ink, allowed me to never look back.  I migrate between two amazing studios now; one was my Mom's, the other Bertoia.  I adore both.  I have one Rembrandt Pelican Press, one Legacy Miniature Halfwood Press; and I aspire to bring a 1850 French Ledeuil Workshop Press into my toolbox.   The Mystery Prints will captivate and begin anew art journey.  I invite you to walk over that bridge with me to find a place that leads you to notice that everything is possible, even the impossible.  I let things resurface so they heal and I find the beauty that mends and makes art happen.  For each start of each new year a mystery begins and keeps going. The cover is not the book, so open it up and take a look.  There's a whole world at your feet for mindfulness found in art will always silence noise.  I've always been curious about print narration and publishing forever and a day, so my first book finally published in 2025 and it's called, grab a signed copy anytime, the 2nd run is here Everyday Art, Folk Art. 

This is just a small lens into who I am. As 4th generation women artist, I aim to move generations forward not tear any walls down.  I'm grateful for you, that kindness and appreciation is why I exist.  I'm easy to find and you are welcome to join my evites for events and visit me by appointment.   Keep looking to find the place where the lost things go and discover more mystery through art.   

Many thanks, sincerely,       

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'behind the scenes' I'm 4th generation Pennsylvania artist,  
forming connections with you through 'sight unseen' print narratives
 it's part of my generational legacy to tell stories, to make things
 to share art, for community, and for generations to come


Mystery Print Subscription
Archival Small Editions
2020 Tree of Life 
2021 Sustainability 
2022 Mirage to Oasis
2023 Art of Flight
2024 Star of the Sea
2025 Biodiversity
2026 Entomology
©Melissa Strawser, All Rights Reserved, 2019

Melissa Strawser Art, Melissa Strawser, Intaglio Printmaking Artist, Sculptress, Bertoia Studio, 4th Generation Woman Artist, Intaglio Printmaking Artist
Copyright © 2026 Melissa Strawser Art  - All Rights Reserved.   
Art made with a lot of ♥ 
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