Meet Mel K. Olrich | Western mixed media painter & illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mel K. Olrich and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mel K., is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
It’s hard to nail down just one, so I would say the two most important factors for me have been my family and community as well as persistence.

I’ve been lucky to have incredibly supportive family and friends who have pushed me to keep going when I’ve felt like giving up. The early encouragement from fellow artists gave me the courage to apply to my first artisan market. Without these moments of validation from people who believed in me, I know that I would not be where I am today or have the confidence to pursue this path.

In today’s world of social media, it can feel like you’re sending things out into the black hole of the internet without much feedback or return. Every artist, creative or small business owner can attest to feeling this at some point or another – it’s easy to get discouraged. But I’ve told some of my artist friends, and I truly believe this, that the key to success is to not give up. Keep trying, getting feedback, adjusting and modifying your strategy, and then try again. Art is deeply personal, which makes it incredibly rewarding, but it can feel very vulnerable when you decide to put yourself out there and turn it into a business. I don’t even think you have to be the most innately talented artist to succeed either. It’s easy to forget that art is a skill that takes countless hours to refine. You simply need the innate desire and motivation to keep creating, practicing and improving, while staying authentic and true to yourself. People can sense that and will relate to it.

Every artist’s journey is different and I think it’s important to remember that and not fall into comparison. I have to continually remind myself of this as there are still so many things I want to accomplish and ways I want to grow as a business and an artist. We all know comparison is the thief of joy, and if we’re not enjoying the process of making and creating then what are we even doing? To me, that’s what it comes down to, true success is about finding joy in the process. It’s about taking a creative idea, making it into something you’re proud of, and then sharing it with the world, even when it feels scary. And then no matter what happens after that, having the bravery to show up again and again. That’s where the growth happens, where the connection happens. And that’s what makes the journey worthwhile.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always loved art and have enjoyed painting, drawing, and design my whole life. However, I never really considered art as an actual career option. I was good at school so I was always told that I could “do anything”, which almost always means something in the math/science realm – like an engineer or health care. You know the drill, because how many adults actually encourage young people to become artists? So I thought, that seems like a logical choice. I’m good at school and am passionate about healthy living, so I’ll go into health care and become a physical therapist. Which is what I did. I graduated from Regis University with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy in… the lovely year of 2020. Ironically, it was really hard to find a job in healthcare at that time because many clinics and hospitals were on a hiring freeze during the pandemic. I wasn’t able to find a job for 6 months, so in that time I turned to my lifelong hobby of art and found comfort in a rather stressful time. I even decided to make a separate art instagram and figured, why not start an Etsy and sell handmade cards and things like that? Well, one thing led to another and I began to connect with other artists over social media and at artisan markets. They inspired me and some even helped me dip my toes in markets. From there, it’s been a very organic process of building and growing my business in a way that has felt right for me, while still working part time as a physical therapist. I’m pretty sure people think I’m crazy, sometimes I think I’m crazy for not pouring into my career as a physical therapist full time. But burnout in health care is real and I decided very early on in my career that life is too short to live out my days feeling exhausted and depleted.

My business began under the trade name “Mountain Mel Designs” as I started out almost exclusively painting watercolor landscapes inspired by the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, using paints and brushes gifted to me that were my grandmother’s. As any artist, my tastes and inspirations have evolved and morphed over time. My husband and I moved to Durango 2 years ago after living on the Front Range for several years. Looking back, moving to Southwest Colorado marks a significant shift in my art. While the dramatic landscapes of the San Juans and the surrounding four corners region constantly enhances my creative energy, I’ve turned to finding a lot of inspiration in more subtle and everyday things like an old leather fringe jacket I found at a thrift store or a pair of vintage cowgirl boots. My dog, who’s name is Bandit, inspired a whole collection of salty cowboy dog illustrations (think the old western movies where a moody cowboy is smoking a cigarette). Currently, I am working on a collection of larger paintings that explores the spirit of the American West and bridges traditional western art with contemporary culture, which I am so excited about! Earlier this year, I changed my business name to “Mel K. Olrich Art” to mark this new chapter in my art practice and will allow me to continue to grow and evolve in ways I have yet to discover.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned along the way is patience. I am not a naturally patient person. Who is in this world of instant gratification? But in learning new art skills, starting creative endeavors, and business building, you have to be willing to put in a lot of work without immediate results and trust that it will pay off in the future. A couple of my favorite mantras that I tell myself right now are “good things take time” and “slow growth is good growth”. I’ve even been incorporating them into some of my most recent work as a form of meditation and words of affirmation for others.

In sharing my story, I hope it encourages those whose lives have taken an unexpected turn in careers, passions, or even priorities. It’s hard to grapple with these types of shifts, especially when you’ve poured so much of yourself into one thing, only to find something entirely different waiting around the corner. I often think about the path I’ve taken by going to school for physical therapy, investing that time (and money!) only to turn to art after graduating from my program. I still work part time as a PT, which I enjoy and find meaning in, but I know now that an essential part of me also needs to create and express myself through art. Acknowledging and accepting this has opened doors I never imagined and led to friendships I never would have had. It’s okay for our dreams to evolve and for our identities to shift. If you have an idea or a dream you can’t let go of – trust it, follow it. The best part is you don’t have to have it all figured out to take the first step, I’m learning and growing all the time which makes it that much more exciting!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This question is speaking my language because I love planning trips and coming up with fun things to do! If a friend was visiting me in Durango for a week, my ideal itinerary would be a blend of hiking and outdoor adventures with lots of tasty food and coffee and ample time to rest and enjoy the moment.

We’d start the trip with a laid-back morning grabbing coffee and a baked good at Durango Coffee Co or Bread’s downtown location. The GF pumpkin muffins at Durango Coffee Co are to die for. If it was a Saturday morning, we’d definitely hit up the Durango Farmers Market and say hello to all my favorite vendors/friends, maybe pick up another baked good from Odd Bird Baking Co (THE best in town). Later, we’d take a leisurely walk or bike ride along the Animas River Trail – if it was warm enough perhaps we’d stop and take a dip in the river if it’s not too high from snow melt or rain.

One of the must do things would definitely be a relaxing soak at the Durango Hot Springs, which is just 15 minutes north of town. It has the most amazing view of these red rocks across the valley that light up at golden hour. To make it feel extra rewarding we might do my favorite in-town hike before, Skyline, which has an incredible view of the La Plata Mountains and all of the valley.

For food/drinks, we’d hit all my favorites: fish tacos or a burrito bowl from Zia’s, happy hour at Pop Sushi, and a cozy afternoon hanging out at Still Life which is a plant store combined with a coffee shop. We might hit up The Peeples Bar located in the Rochester Hotel, they have such a cute space inside as well as a great outdoor patio. We’d also have to stop into my favorite thrift stores in town– Lizard Head Trading Co and Nomad. I always find great pieces at these shops!

Mid-week (to avoid maximal tourist crowds), I’d suggest a trip to Silverton—grab coffee at Coffee Bear and hang out on their rooftop patio, explore the town and the surrounding area, go on a hike, and maybe stay overnight at the charming Wyman Hotel for a little mountain getaway. Or we’d do a day trip over to Mancos and Cortez. On the way out, there is the coolest coffee shop/bar in the Mesa Verde Motel called M Bar & Coffee. The vibes are on point with lots of Southwest-y and Western themed art and swag. Depending on the season, we might drive out to Canyon of the Ancients National Monument. There’s a hike you can do where you can walk right up to several cliff dwellings. After a hike, we could do a wine tasting at Sutcliffe Vineyards and get a wood-fired pizza for lunch. On the way back to Durango, we’d have to stop again in Mancos and visit Hand in Hand which is a book and bottle shop with lots of handmade, unique goods from local artists and makers. They also offer wine by the glass. You can even order appetizers from The Boathouse which is a restaurant a couple of doors down and have them there.

Before the end of the week, we’d definitely have a picnic in the mountains somewhere and bring some art supplies, possibly a paddle board or two if we go to a lake. We’d have to stay for sunset so we can catch the incredible alpenglow on the peaks as the sun goes down. Good food, mountains, art… It doesn’t get better than that!

I could add more but I think that should keep us busy! Haha.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to my family, more specifically my husband, Mason, and my older brother, Brad.

Mason has been my unofficial (and unpaid might I mention) employee, studio assistant, market helper, mat cutter and framer, photo-taker, custom shipping box maker, #1 supporter through it all. He’s the one who is constantly telling me to keep going, keep pursuing and going after this dream. He loves (almost) every single piece of art I make even when I hate it haha. He’s put in countless unrecognized and unseen hours with me to make this little biz of mine happen.

I also wanted to credit Brad, my brother – who is a full time videographer and photographer in Los Angeles. He moved out to California fresh out of college to pursue his dreams and he is doing the dang thing! He’s my number one inspiration, artist and mentor that I look up to. He helps me regain perspective when I’ve felt discouraged to focus on the things that really matter – which is keep creating art that is true to yourself and the rest will follow.

Website: https://www.melkolrichart.com

Instagram: @melkolrichart

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melkolrichart/

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/melkolrichart/

Image Credits
Personal photo/headshot – Sydney Smolla