Melanie Siegel paints landscapes of old master quality. They are devoid of people, appear somewhat dreamy, often a little eerie and are associated with the direction of "new romanticism". All these compositions represent real existing places that are alienated without the change becoming too obvious. However, the interventions in what is found are often very strong, so that a completely new composition and thus a fictional or "semi-fictional" place is created and appears credible at first glance. In these painted worlds, reality noticeably tips over, but one cannot always say why. Photographs are used as templates for the compositions, which experience a transformation in the process of painting: shadows are lengthened, trees are transplanted, sharpness and blur are subtly manipulated, which creates an illusionistic impression. In these scenarios, nature often reclaims human-shaped spaces, which sometimes also appears almost dystopian.

Often, less spectacular places or motifs are chosen as the subject of Melanie Siegel's paintings, which she awakens to unexpected beauty. Through special perspectives, lighting conditions and fine oil painting technique, they are ennobled and attain a sublime character. With cloud studies, the reverse principle is applied – the painted sky must not appear "too beautiful", which is why it is interspersed with power poles and overhead lines. "Too much beauty for the pictures is not good," says Melanie Siegel, which is why it is important to her to break this beauty in a subtle way. Even the beautiful can have an inherent discomfort.

The artist completed the Munich Art Academy as a master student of Karin Kneffel, but only after training as a stage painter.