Meet Melissa Clinkingbeard | Artist and small business owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Clinkingbeard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, what do you want your legacy to be?
I want to be remembered as a self-taught artist who followed her curiosity and creativity wherever it led whether it was through soapmaking, pottery, or painting. What started as a handmade soap business slowly evolved into something much more layered and meaningful. My artwork began as a simple way to make my booth feel more welcoming, but people felt a connection to it and that connection became the heart of my creative journey.

My legacy, I hope, will be about connection to the earth, to natural materials like clay, and to the quiet, soulful stories hidden in the landscapes I paint. I want people to remember how I blended my love of nature and texture into everything I made how I turned clay into color, soap into ritual, and art into an experience. I hope the people who hang my art in their homes feel something timeless, mysterious, and peaceful in it like a familiar trail where they might spot an old, weathered pot tucked beside the path.

If I’m remembered for anything, I’d want it to be that I created from the heart and left something behind that made people feel seen, soothed, and inspired.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is a reflection of earth, time, and memory it’s deeply tied to natural materials like clay, which I’ve been working with since high school. I originally began my creative business through handmade soap, using clay for its skin-loving benefits and its beautiful, natural color. As I explored more creatively, I started making landscape art to decorate my booth but customers were drawn to those pieces in a surprising and powerful way. That connection lit something in me.
What sets my work apart is how I incorporate clay not just in my soaps, but also into my paintings. I mix it directly into my paints, giving my landscapes a muted, rustic, almost aged look as if they hold a quiet history. Each piece is textured, earthy, and timeless, with hidden “Easter eggs” like small aged pottery along trails subtle nods to my love for ceramics and storytelling. My art feels like a peaceful journey through a familiar place, full of mystery and groundedness. One of the most meaningful parts of this journey has been the emotional connection people have to my art. I’ve had customers brought to tears in my booth. Some tell me it feels like they’re taking a piece of my soul home with them. Others have shared that my art brings a deep sense of peace and calm to their lives that it touches something in their spirit they didn’t expect. Those moments have moved me beyond words and reminded me why I create. Getting to this point hasn’t been easy. I’ve had to learn a lot on my own from running a small business, to trusting my instincts as a self-taught artist. There have been moments of doubt, especially when I felt like I was reinventing myself creatively. But I’ve learned that creativity isn’t always linear. It’s okay to shift, to evolve, to follow what feels right even when it doesn’t make sense at first.
What I want people to know about me and my brand is that everything I make comes from a very intentional, soulful place. Whether it’s a bar of soap or a piece of art, I want it to feel like something you connect with something that brings a little peace, beauty, and grounding into your space. I never expected that my art would resonate the way it has, but I’m incredibly grateful that it does. That connection is what fuels me to keep creating.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit, I’d plan a week that was peaceful, scenic. I’m more of a homebody at heart, so I love places that are a little quieter, filled with natural beauty and creative energy.
Red Rocks is awesome, the views there are incredible, and it’s the perfect spot to soak in the red sandstone formations and just breathe. Maybe go to a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
A hike in Boulder along the Chautauqua trails one of my favorite spots for peaceful walking with those wide-open sky views and the Flatirons in the background.
Evergreen would definitely be on the itinerary. I love its small-town charm and mountain vibe. Maybe grab a bite to eat along the river.
keep things simple slow mornings with coffee and tea and maybe a visit to a local farmer’s market, or a pottery studio maybe a lake to relax by. Breckenridge is another favorite pace of mine. For winter activities and summer events. I’d want my friend to feel recharged and inspired by the slower pace, the beautiful landscapes, and the creativity that seems to naturally live in Colorado.
Some of the most exciting and interesting things to me aren’t necessarily the busiest or trendiest they’re the places where you can really feel present, grounded, and connected. That’s what I’d want to share the most.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have a few people and sources of inspiration who really deserve a shoutout. First and foremost, I want to thank my family and close friends who have supported me from the very beginning, even when my ideas were still forming and evolving. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to explore my creativity freely.
I also want to recognize the local art and maker communities the markets, fairs, and fellow artists who create such a welcoming space for small businesses and creatives to grow. Being surrounded by others who are passionate about handmade work and storytelling through art has been both inspiring and grounding.
And finally, I’d dedicate a special part of this shoutout to my high school ceramics teacher, who first introduced me to clay. That early experience stuck with me and became such a foundational part of my creative identity. It’s amazing how one moment or one teacher can leave such a lasting imprint.
Everyone who’s ever shared kind words about my soap or art or bought a piece and given it a home you’re a part of this journey too. Your connection to my work is what keeps me going.

Website: https://www.saltandklaysoap.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saltandklaysoap/