Melinda was born October 14,1968 Copper Hill TN, 15 miles from her family’s farm in Mineral Bluff, GA. She grew up on the same farm and still resides there today with her husband, Robert Wagner, daughter, Lakota Towe and her father. Growing up on a southern farm instilled in her dedication to family, the man upstairs, a love for the outdoors and animals, especially horses. Life in the Appalachians along with childhood on the farm and riding her horses placed in her a love for nature an wildlife that inspires her love for art. Melinda is a self-taught artist that started drawing at a young age. She was an artist for the school magazine and after college drew part time for consignments and expo booths. She then became a life time member of The National Taxidermists Association, competing in the World Taxidermy Competition twice, taking two third place ribbons and an honorable mention. She finally returned to her first love, art, graphite, mixed media and inks. January, 2016 she decided to fulfill her life dream and become a full time artist spending most of her time at home working on her art, taking care of her family, the farm, horses and their fur kids. She spends summers in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and Colorado taking reference pictures and sketching inspirational western scenery. Melinda’s work has hung in The Booth Western Art Museum’s Downtown Gallery, Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association and Southern Appalachian Artist Guild.