Melissa Lofton was born in Carmel, California and is a longtime resident of the Big Sur area. Painting between landscapes, born out of her love for the natural world and abstract work, a natural expression of inner worlds, Lofton paints large format canvasses in oil, characterized by complex, lively color and texture. She is inspired by the landscape of home in Big Sur: trees, mountains, rocks and sea. She also paints the people and everyday objects in her world and her travels. In recent years, Lofton has become fascinated with the possibility of painting a more subjective inner world: dreams, thoughts, the quality of life.

Lofton maintains a studio at her home in the mountains of Big Sur as well as a studio space in Carmel.