About 1SGWW Art.

El Paso based artist, Melinda Blackwelder, has been combining her passion for painting, drawing and ceramics with her 17 years of military experience to emphasize the undeniable impact that engagement in the arts has on those who deal with military related mental health disorders. The blend of her personal and professional experiences with her social work knowledge have enhanced her ability to challenge the traditional notion of mental health treatment which consists of counseling and pharmacological solutions. Melinda was born in El Paso, Texas in 1978. She joined the military in 2000 and retired in 2017. She received her Bachelor’s of Liberal Arts from Excelsior College in 2010. In 2014 She received her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Southern California. She is currently in the process of earning her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Painting with a minor in Drawing and Ceramics from the University of Texas at El Paso.