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In the creative life of Navajo-Dine artist, educator, and author Melanie A. Yazzie, the process of dreaming is not confined to the realm of sleep; dreaming occupies space and time during quiet, reflective moments we find between each breath every day. Living in a world often out of balance, Melanie strives to create peace and balance in her work, where colors and shapes fill the space with serene harmony.

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Her maternal grandfather's clan is Edge Water, and her paternal grandfather's clan is Red Streak into the Water. Both her parents were educators who worked full-time, leaving Melanie in the care of her maternal grandparents. She remembers, "My first experience in art was when I was three years old, attending a local Montessori preschool.

I had a smock made from one of my father's old shirts to protect my clothes while I painted. I gifted the painting to my mother; she still has it; the experience of that first painting is still with me today. Melanie's family taught her the value of creativity, productivity, and a strong work ethic as she grew older. Her mother's father, Tom Baldwin, was also imaginative, building fences, corrals, and doors for his storage buildings from discarded Coca-Cola and Pepsi signs; resourcefulness was his specialty.

Along with creativity and resourcefulness, Melanie took to heart the strong examples from multi-generations in her family who stressed placing education and community first and foremost in building a life of purpose.

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Her work over the years is an example of incorporating ancestral wisdom and knowledge into her creative process. In her senior year in high school, Melanie signed up for an art class, which became her introduction to printmaking. Immediately after graduation, with plans set for her to attend Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, Melanie took off for Mexico; needless to say, her parents were not happy with her decision.

However, she admits she needed the time to experience other indigenous cultures, explore and discover her identity, and understand the importance of continuing her education. Today, Melanie A. Melanie is also active in the print media community, with citations in dozens of books and magazines featuring Printmaking.