A Classic Day in Seattle with artist Melanie Biehle

Seattle. Yeah, it’s rainy. It also captured the attention of an entire generation who fell hard for grunge, lattes, and startups. It’s also long been the birthplace of seismic shifts in art and culture as we know it. It still is. Artist Melanie Biehle shares how she spends a classic day in her city.

MORNING MUST-HAVES

I’m glad you caught up with me this month because I’ve been completely motivated to revamp my morning routine and have been getting a lot done! 

But first…coffee. I am obsessed with this milk steamer/frother that my husband got me for my birthday. I use it every morning along with a pinch of Anjali’s Cup Chai Masala to create the best cup of coffee. Then it’s time to head into my studio, light my Alibi NYC Honey & Bourbon candle, and get to work.

I’ve been journaling and planning out my day each morning and it has made a huge difference in what I’ve been motivated to do and able to accomplish in a day. For freeform “morning pages” types of writing I like to use pen and paper. Then I transfer the things that I want to be able to reference or search for later into Moleskine Journey. I also use this app for daily to-do lists and long-term plans/goals. 

A TYPICAL WORK DAY

After I check in with myself each morning and figure out how my day is going to look, then it’s time to get started. I’m often responsible for getting my kid and dog out into the world before turning to my own goals. I try to schedule painting days for the days when my husband works from home so I’ll have more time for long, uninterrupted art sessions. The other days are for business tasks — things that don’t take as long to set up or fully get into, and don’t suffer as much from being interrupted as the actual creation of art.

OUT AND ABOUT

My days are often spent painting and working in my home studio, but I also try to spend time at the beach or in the city every week. Here are some of my favorite places to visit in Seattle.

Elliott Bay Book Company in Capitol Hill has an excellent vibe and a great magazine section. 

Frankie & Jo’s for delicious ice cream that’s so rich and creamy that you don’t even think of it as being vegan. Try Salty Caramel Ash or Chocolate Tahini Supercookie. 

Olympic Sculpture Park a beautiful waterfront park that is affiliated with the Seattle Art Museum. 

Pike Place Market is a tourist destination that is also well-loved by locals. It’s one of my favorite places to visit in the city. Be sure to pop into gourmet grocer DeLaurenti for all kinds of good stuff to bring home.

Casa di LaValle is a beautiful home goods boutique owned and run by interior stylist Cassandra LaValle. We often collaborate on custom art collections for her shop.

Fonda La Catrina is a delicious Mexican restaurant in the Georgetown neighborhood. Bonus points for its heated covered patio. 

And finally, I love visiting Venture Coffee in Ballard for a lavender latte.