Artist Bio: Mel Rhoads

Mel Rhoads is a local (Oxnard/Ventura CA) artist who enjoys painting landscapes in oil, watercolor, and acrylic. He still remembers the joy of painting at an easel during the weekly art classes in elementary school. In college at Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo, he studied architecture and civil engineering. While attending school he won several design awards in architecture. Upon graduation in 1960, he, his wife Jan and three small children moved to Oxnard, CA. He continued to study art and to paint throughout his professional career as a registered civil engineer and surveyor. He retired in 1997 to become a full time artist. Since then, he has won many awards for his paintings.

Like most artists, he considers his art education to be an ongoing, life-long experience. Hi teachers are his books and the outdoors, both of which he studies every day. As with all endeavors, learning continues by doing, studying, and then doing again - hopefully better.

Mel's paintings have been exhibited in the Oxnard Carnegie Art Museum and Ventura County Maritime Museum. They are sold through local galleries. His works are in many private collections.