Melvin has been drawing, sketching, painting, and teaching art for over 20 years. His specialty is in portrait drawing and live sketching.

Melvin has a master's degree from New York Theological Seminary and a bachelor's degree from Marist College.

Melvin is the producer of "Artistic Talents", which airs every Thursday at 3:00pm on Cablevision channel 68 or Time Warner channel 35 or www.bcat.tv . 

Awards and honors:

* Vietnam Memorial Art Gallery NY

* Northern Westchester Center for the Art

* Fortune Society

* Puffin Foundation

* Alliance of Queens Art 

* Chosen the feature of the month, "City Watch: Interview with Art Teacher", by Denise Benson

* Special to the Epoch Times, and "Who Says Art Isn't Easy?" by Leonard Jacobs, editor of Brooklyn Community Access Television. 

Melvin's objective is to enlighten, encourage, and inspire young people to tell their story through the process of drawing and painting.

Favorite quote:

 "I don't want to paint for the few who can see a canvas in a museum, for I believe that in a democracy art belongs to the people. I want my pictures to be published". - Norman Rockwell

Favorite books:

Norman Rockwell, Artist and Illustrator, by Thomas S. Buechner

Basic Colored Pencil Techniques, by Bet Borgeson

An Introduction to Drawing, by Robin Hazlewood

Portrait Drawing, by Wendon Blake

The Artist's Guide to Perspective, by Janet Shearer