About the Artists

Woodcarving artists...

Melissa O'Shields and Laurence Bridges teamed up together in 1989 to design and produce woodcarvings under the name Melissa * Laurence Artisans and began selling their works on the art show circuit throughout the eastern United States in 1990.

Melissa and Laurence have announced that they will be retiring in 2007 and will no longer be carving or comissioning their art.

History

Laurence studied commercial art and design at Perry International in Atlanta, GA from 1967-1969. And commercial art, oriental art, and design at Etsura Hayakawa in Sizouka Ken, Japan from 1971-1973. He fell in love with the Orient and began traveling and studying art throughout southeast Asia. In Sri Lanka he studied the ancient methods of Batik dyeing, but it was in Madras, India where he became fascinated with woodcarving and ancient methods of antiquing. He found a master carver who offered him an apprenticeship and he lived and studied in India for 1 1/2 years.

Melissa studied photography with one of Ansel Adams students, Neil Chaput, at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center in Atlanta, 1974-1976. She had an award-winning photograph published in Redbook Magazine in 1975. She began a ten year career in real estate in 1978 which led her to home design and restoration and ultimately her love of finishing wood. In 1989 under Laurence's direction she began studying woodcarving and found a master carver in Thailand to apprenticeship with.

Media

Television

2001 HGTV (Home & Garden Television) "Our Place"
See Our Interview on Home & Garden

March 1999 - Guest appearance on WSB TV "People to People"

Publications

Atlanta Business Chronicle "A Menagerie of Mahogany: sculpted animals are both fine art and toys " - October 2006
Winner of Atlanta Magazine's Best Instant Heirloom 2003
Art Now Gallery Guide - May 2001 - Boston/New England/New York
Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles - February 1998
Tampa Bay Magazine - October 1996

Awards

2005 - 2nd Place in Fine Crafts - Hiawassee Festival of Arts   Hiawassee, GA
1999 - 1st Place in Sculpture - Boston Mills Artfest Peninsula, OH
1999 - 1st Place - Art Station Juried Exhibition Stone Moutain, GA
1998 - Judges selection - Cain Park Cleveland, OH
1998 - Peoples Choice Award - Kosair Charities St. James Court Art Show
1998 - Award of Excellence - Beaux Arts Festival at Lowe Museum Miami, FL
1997 - 1st Place in Whimisical - Fantasy Boston Mills Artfest Peninsula, OH
1997 - Best of Show - Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival Fairhope, AL
1996 - Selected by the White House to carve a rocking horse ornament for President & Mrs. Clinton's Blue Room Christmas Tree
1995 - Judges Award - Great Gulfcoast Art Festival Pensicola, FL
1994 - 1st Place Exhibitors Choice - Piccolo Spoleto Charleston, SC
1993 - 2nd Place in Show - Las Olas Museum Ft. Lauderdale, FL
1993 - 1st Place in Wood - Key Biscayne Arts Festival Key Biscayne, FL
1992 - 1st Place in Sculpture - Meet Me Downtown Boca Raton, FL
1991 - 2nd Place in Sculpture - S. Miami Arts Festival Miami, FL