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Loving What Life Gives You: Goals, Dreams, and Throwing It All Away | Personal Post

Sep 9, 2020
3 min

Loving What Life Gives You: Goals, Dreams, and Throwing It All Away | Personal Post

Today I want to talk about something that has been very real in my life in the last few years and something that I think a lot of people work through each and every day…Loving what life gives you! (This will circle back to my artistic and entrepreneurial ventures, I promise) Now, I’m talking about working hard, planning, and dreaming, but not reaching those goals in a way or on the timeline you WANT…and learning to love where you are anyway, despite disappointments in your ca

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Bumblebee | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Bumblebee | Endangered Species Series

Bumblebee There are approximately 275 different species of bumblebees around the world, with a majority of them living in the northern hemisphere. Only a few of these species are commonly seen in most places. Some species are found in only very specific locations. Bumblebees have been in decline because of changes in agricultural practices that are eliminating flowering plants from the landscapes, leaving the bees with little to feed on. Bumblebees live in a variety of ha

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Hiking + Backpacking 101 | Etiquette, Safety, and Leave No Trace

Sep 9, 2020
3 min

Hiking + Backpacking 101 | Etiquette, Safety, and Leave No Trace

(The Windows - Arches National Park) It's no secret that I LOVE hiking and have found a new love in backpacking. Everyone should have intimate experiences out in nature. There is so much out there to learn about yourself and this beautiful world, but I know how apprehensive some people are to step into the unknown, especially alone. I truly believe there is great value in challenging yourself in uncomfortable situations and hiking alone can be really beneficial, but being

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We're A Small Piece of This Big World | Hiking in Our National Parks | Personal Post

Sep 9, 2020
5 min

We're A Small Piece of This Big World | Hiking in Our National Parks | Personal Post

(Canyonlands - Island in the Sky District - Grand View Point Overlook) This past weekend I arrived back in WI after 10 days on the road to Utah with plenty of stops along the way. We explored 5 different national parks in Colorado and Utah and spent a few days near Boulder, CO. I'm thrilled to share a little glimpse into this amazing trip through photos today and will probably ramble a little too much about certain hikes and experiences along the way (bear with me!!). I als

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Paperless + Unplugged | A Struggle to Champion Sustainability and Limit Personal Screen Time

Sep 9, 2020
3 min

Paperless + Unplugged | A Struggle to Champion Sustainability and Limit Personal Screen Time

Recently, we've been having issues with the wi-fi in my house...I was working on a scratchboard commission though, so it wasn't a big deal really. I had the reference photo saved on my flash drive, so I didn't need the internet to be productive - it was a quiet work time, however, because I couldn't get a connection for my Pandora station (minor disappointment)! After a few hours, though, I thought 'ok, that's enough" and went to reset the router in time to get my afternoon

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Conservation, Awareness, Advocacy | The Third Pillar | Business Post

Sep 9, 2020
3 min

Conservation, Awareness, Advocacy | The Third Pillar | Business Post

Hey there! This quote speaks to me in big ways!! As an avid hiker, someone who yearns for the solace of nature, a wildlife artist, sustainability junkie, supporter of renewable energies, and animal lover, it is important to me that I respect the natural order of Earth and try to limit the impact of my human footprint. Something so important in my personal life has, naturally, spilled over into my business life. So the reason we're here today - the third pillar of Melissa H

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Mountain Gorilla | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Mountain Gorilla | Endangered Species Series

Mountain Gorilla | Gorilla beringei beringei Quick Facts: Status: Critically Endangered Height: 4 to 5 ½ ft Weight: Up to 440lbs Habitat: forests, mountain Diet: vegetarian Population: 880 Mountain gorillas live in forests high in the mountains, half of the population live in the forests of the Virunga Mountains, of Central Africa at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet where temperatures drop to dangerous levels, often below freezing. They have thicker fur than other gorillas

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Gray Langur | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Gray Langur | Endangered Species Series

Welcome to the first Endangered Species Series post of the year!!! If this is the first time you're visiting my blog for this series, I'm SO excited you're here to learn more about our world's endangered species. In this series, I offer information about the species, an images of the species through my artwork, and information about what continues to threaten the species' existence. Each post is set up in the same way as this one and at the bottom of this post, you will f

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2017 | A Leap of Faith | Personal Post

Sep 9, 2020
4 min

2017 | A Leap of Faith | Personal Post

Happy 2017 everyone! This year is really BIG for me...in mid September of last year, among a lot of change in my personal life, I realized something - that I wanted to take the plunge and move to working full-time for myself. I had no real plan (I'd figure that out), but what I did have was an overwhelming amount of encouragement from my fellow artists and a support system in my family ('framily', I'm looking at you too - you know friends who are family :) ) that never wave

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Asian Elephant | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Asian Elephant | Endangered Species Series

Asian Elephant | Elephas maximus indicus Quick Facts: Status: Endangered Height: 6.5 – 11.5ft Weight: around 11,000lbs Length: around 21ft Population: 40,000-50,000 As Asia's largest land mammal, the Asian elephant is smaller than its African counterpart, with smaller ears that they use to keep themselves cool by constantly keeping them in motion and a single 'finger' on the upper lip of their trunk (African elephants have a second finger). Their skin ranges from dark grey t

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A Small Adventure in a Big World | Personal Post | Porcupine Mountains

Sep 9, 2020
3 min

A Small Adventure in a Big World | Personal Post | Porcupine Mountains

Big Carp River Trail - Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Photo taken on iPhone I am newly back from quite the adventure up in the Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and wanted to share some of the amazing things I saw and some of my reflections along the way. The title of today's blog has a sort of double meaning because, yes, I was on a short hiking and backpacking adventure out in the wilderness that can make one feel so very small (in what I b

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Bald Eagle | Endangered Species Series | A Success Story

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Bald Eagle | Endangered Species Series | A Success Story

Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus Quick Facts: Length: around 3 feet Wingspan: females – 7 feet, males – 6 feet Weight: 10-14 lbs Lifespan: 20-30 years Population: 5,000 mating pairs The Bald Eagle is the only eagle unique to North America and is the United States’ national symbol. The Bald Eagle is an Endangered Species Act success story. This series' purpose is to highlight species at risk of extinction and threatened by any number of things from habitat loss due to h

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Jaguar | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Jaguar | Endangered Species Series

Jaguar | 9x12 scratchboard Black Panther | 11x14 scratchboard Jaguar | Panthera onca Quick Facts: Status: Endangered Height: 25-30in at shoulder Length: 43-75in Weight: 79-211lbs Lifespan: 12 years Population: 15,000 in the wild Jaguars are the largest cat in the Americas. They range from Argentina in South America up to the Grand Canyon in the United States, though they have been almost completely eliminated from the northern most part of their range and are endangered in t

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Mandrill | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
1 min

Mandrill | Endangered Species Series

Mandrill (Mandrill sphinx) Quick Facts: Status: Threatened Height: 3 ft Weight: 77 lbs Lifespan: 20 years Habitat: Rain forests Diet: Omnivore - fruits, roots, and animals The mandrill is the largest and most colorful of all monkeys. Their easily identifiable red and blue faces, as well as colorful back sides become brighter when they get excited. They have long canine teeth that can be used for self-defense but baring them is typically a friendly gesture within their group

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Chimpanzee | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Chimpanzee | Endangered Species Series

Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Quick Facts: Status: Endangered Population: 172,700 - 299,700 Habitat: Dry and moist forests Height: 4 to 5.5 ft Weight: 70 to 130 lbs Diet: Omnivore - fruits and plants, insects, eggs, meat Lifespan: up to 50 years The chimpanzee is our closest living relative, sharing 98% of our genetic makeup. They live in communities of several dozen. They are highly social creatures and care for their offspring for many years. Chimpanzees are one of the fe

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African Elephant | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

African Elephant | Endangered Species Series

African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) Quick Facts: Status: Threatened Population: 470,000 Height: 8.2 - 13 ft Weight: 5,000 - 14,000 lbs Average Lifespan: up to 70 years Habitat: Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests, Flooded Grasslands and Savannahs, Miombo woodlands, Acacia savannahs Range: Central and Southern Africa Diet: Herbivores - roots, grasses, fruit, and bark; they consume up to 300 lbs in one day African Elephants are the largest land animals and are sl

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ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY | Make Your Mark

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY | Make Your Mark

Happy Endangered Species Day!! Today we celebrate wildlife + wild places and focus on how and why so many species are struggling to survive. Not only should we take this opportunity to educate ourselves on how our actions impact the survival of our nation's wildlife, but also how we can make a difference everyday! There are so many species, known and unknown, around the world that are close to extinction, but we can help turn their fate around. Melissa Helene Fine Arts and

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Earth Day | Celebrating our World

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Earth Day | Celebrating our World

Happy Earth Day to you all! Today is a great day to celebrate and appreciate the world that we live in by finding your own special way to honor the earth. Some people will gather a group and pick up trash along the roadways (a very needed thing), others will venture into a natural space to study the specimens within and document what they find, and some may strap on their packs and head into the wild to breathe in all that it offers us has human beings. Whatever you decide

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Orangutan | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Orangutan | Endangered Species Series

Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) Quick Facts: ENDANGERED Population: 40,000 (down from 60,000 just a decade ago) Height: 4 to 5 ft Weight: 73 - 180 lbs Arm Span: males may stretch their arms up to 7 ft Average Life Span: 30 - 40 years Habitat: tropical rainforest Range: Sumatra and Borneo (the only species of ape to come from Asia) Diet: fruit, leaves, bark, insects, and on rare occasions, meat The long-haired, orange primates are closely related to humans (sharing 97% of the same

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Red Panda | Endangered Species Series

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Red Panda | Endangered Species Series

Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) Quick Facts: Size - Head and body, 20 to 26 in (50 to 65 cm); Tail, 12 to 20 in (30 to 50 cm) Weight - 12 to 20 lbs (5.4 to 9 kg) Lifespan - 8 years Diet - herbivore; bamboo, fruits, acorns, roots, eggs Habitat - high-altitude forests and mountains; Nepal, Myanmar, and central China Population - less than 10,000 individuals STATUS: Endangered The red panda has been classified as a relative to the giant panda, as well as the raccoon. They are curre

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