meldaart

PiBoIdMo

2011-10-30T06:48:00.001-07:00

It's Picture Book Idea Month! I am all signed up and ready to go, it's my first time as I was still at uni last year when I heard about it so I'm waaaaaay excited!

Last years blog posts from published writers was so helpful and inspiring, so go read those too.

I have my idea book ready...

Oh, and go look at my twitter for a sneak peak at my new blog banner thingy, and help me with a name for these furry horned monsters. I'll be sure to blog about them in the near future.

Also, I'm at Letchworth's Greenhouse Friday craft show again soon (as soon as the electricians have finished turning the house in to a building site)...

Where do I begin?

2011-08-04T10:11:00.000-07:00

Haven't been here for a while! Here's a catch up:
I've finished uni with a 2:1.
I'm jobless, and applying to every part time job I can find.
I'm pennyless so nothing to send to art directors yet, but hopefully will soon as I can afford to.
I'm on a couple of sites now... deviantart bigcartel facebook and I have a new twitter that's all illustration. (As apposed to my former twitter that was all about tv...).

As for illustration, take a look:

There's more on my Flickr! And some photos on my FBpage.

This photo I took at Colchester Zoo is the start of a new promotions project.

Also I fed an elephant.

The Tin Soldier (book 2!)

2011-05-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

The Tin Soldier by Melissa Copeman | Make Your Own Book

My New Book!

2011-04-26T11:00:00.000-07:00

Zoo Who by Melissa Copeman | Make Your Own Book

End of year book!

2011-04-14T04:55:00.000-07:00

The illustrators have teamed up with the graphic designers to exhibit ourselves in a book, as well as the end of year show. My imagees are from my final major project, although only edited photographs, as the originals have had to go on a trip to London to be scanned. All A1 watersoluble crayons.

I'm looking foraward to seeing all the illustrators work in one place, and seeing all the graphic designers work as I haven't seen much of it yet.

Hi!

2011-04-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a while! At the moment I'm a few weeks off of finishing at uni. So as soon as all the work is done I'll put it up along with photos from my exhibition. (Which I'm more than a little excited about.) Till then Twitter and Flickr are pretty up to date! I'll be back!

Out with the old, in with the new!

2010-08-17T05:18:00.000-07:00

My munny is finished! He'll be up on etsy as soon as I have a sunny day to take photos.

I also finished my russian doll set, they're all varnished an ready for photos too. They'll be on etsy in the next few days too!

My last project of the summer will be to finish this sketchbook for the sketchbook project. My theme is nighttime stories. I have a couple of pages already done, so I will scan them in and show them off soon.

Then my other project is Zines. I have 3/4 ideas for zines, aiming to make them all by the time uni starts. Will be up for sale on etsy of course. Go here for more great zinesters.

I really need to get these last few projects out of my system before uni starts, and I'm needed to focus on the tutors briefs again.

Sitting in the reading room...

2010-08-10T06:10:00.000-07:00

I love to read art books, my studio has a bookcase that is nearly collapsing under the strain of these books so I haven't brought any for a long time, but I caved. I purchased two new art books after seeing other artists recommend them.

First up is The Handmade Marketplace, How to sell your crafts locally, globally and online. By Kari Chapin and illustrated by Emily Martin and Jen shelley.

The book does exactly what it says, it teaches how to set up and maintain a business selling your own handmade bits and bobs. It also has handy tips and tricks, and advice from the professionals.

I'm halfway through the book, it's small in size so I could take it with me while babysitting, its very pretty! The illustrations are cute and the headers and pretty boxes make it a very eye pleasing. It's also very inspiring, I'm halfway through the blogging section and look what I'm up to now!

I'm not a typical crafter I don't make bags or bath bombs, but I do customize toys and paint, so it is helpful to have a rough idea how to sell them on etsy and make a name for myself.

Defiantly recommending!

The second book is Drawing Lab for mixed-media artists: 52 creative exercises to make drawing fun. By Carla Sonheim. This isn't your average how-to-draw book, it has fun exercises/tasks to try out and hints on how to take them even further. This also has featured artists and example work.

I haven't yet got to far in the book, but I'm looking forward to trying out the techniques and even taking my sketchbook out for a few trips. I think it will be a nice way to end the summer and get me back into the swing of set briefs, and drawing on paper again - seeing as I've been all about toys at the moment!

It's a very inspiring book with looks of intriguing illustrations, so check it out!

Side note: One of my fellow UH students has already worked her way through this book and I'm loving the work that came form it so take a look at LIZ!

My third read is a children's magazine that caught my eye in WHSmith's. OKIDO the arts and science magazine for kids. 'A quarterly magazine for children aged 2 and above.' I have issue 13 which focuses on body noises. There's stories, activities, games, origami, recipes and a poem, all beautifully illustrated.

It makes a great change from the cbeebies, Disney and Simpson magazines! (Even if there is no free toy.) So go buy!

Does anyone else have a recommendation for me?!

More toys then Toy Story!

2010-08-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

I've started working on a new munny, covered it it liquid latex to start then when that dried, I cut it open and started to add more latex. After I've done that I think I'll paint him.The start of the Russian dolls.

Inbetween these projects I made myself a van!

Finished pictures of the dolls and munny to come soon hopefully!

Munnys Monsters and Bears, Oh My!

2010-08-05T10:48:00.000-07:00

Here are the finished pictures of the bear munny accessory and the mini monster me!

The bear is covered in pink paint and glue, weird little sculpture - but I didn't know what else to do with it.

Still not 100% pleased with this but it's the first time I've painted a 3D object, so really it's not that bad! The round munny shape makes it a lot cuter than my original design.

Business Cards

2010-08-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

I received 10 free business cards from Moo, very nice quality - great print and smooth finish. Came quick too. Plus, free = awesome!

Toys WIP

2010-07-30T12:35:00.000-07:00

An accessory from a big munny, a little bear, covered in pink paint. I don't really know why. A mini munny, soon to be the monster version on me!

The shelves in my studio, my growing dunny collection, buffy figures, skull, cat in the hat, toys, my collage money munny, and below are posters and stickers. By, Tara McPherson, Eboy, Jamfactory and others!

Toys

2010-07-17T07:32:00.000-07:00

I had 4 designer vinyl toys arrive in the post today!

Droplet by JamFactory, came with a bundle of stickers! I especially liked the amusing comments on the packaging.

These are the Gary Baseman, Amanda Vissell and Frank Kosik Dunny. Purchased from Future Plastik.

I love them all, I may even have to get more, as I still want to get the ones designed by Jon Burgerman, Gary Taxali, MAD, Sket one, Tara Mcpherson and Ron English, to name a few!

Shopped till I dropped

2010-07-14T07:25:00.000-07:00

I purchased some wicked new stuff at Milton Keynes today, including

Iron Fist shoes,

Skull Candy headphones!

And some clothes, chocolate and dvds. Very happy!

My Birthday!

2010-07-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

It was my 21st Birthday yesterday, here are some snaps of my cupcakes and cards. The 24 cupcakes were made by the Cake Hole in Hitchin, they were delicious!

The Dorothy card was made by my sister. :) As you can see it was a very Wizard of Oz themed birthday!

Old Mcdonald Had A Farm,

2010-07-10T03:15:00.000-07:00

Ee I ee I oh. And on that farm he had some sheep, ee I ee I oh. With a baa baa here, a baa baa there, ee I ee I oh.

A spot illustration for a business magazine, article was based on diversity in the workplace. My idea was that although they did the same job, like sheep, the workers are all different.

Water colour pencils, dipped in water.

Leaving to get my birthday cupcakes now, will upload pictures after my birthday!

HiHi!

2010-07-05T04:22:00.000-07:00

This is my third blog. I think. When I start I new blog I like to tell readers a bit about me, and my life at the moment. So here goes...

I'm 21 on the 11th of July.

I start my third year of university in October. I do Illustration, at the University of Hertfordshire.

I just moved back home, because of money/housemates issues.
My parents converted the shed into a studio for me, complete with desk and spinny chair.

I like to draw: animals, food, monsters/aliens and freaks.

I love children's books.

I babysit a lot. I prefer people under 5's, they're more fun.

I hate old people.

I watch a lot of tv and movies. And usually end up quoting them too.

I love musicals, especially The Wizard of Oz and Wicked!

I'm addicted to the Sims 3.

Twitter = @meldaart

Flickr = Meldaart

That's it for now folks, I will start blogging about my work and some work from my favourite illustrators soon!