For this weeks feature I bring you Melody from EverybodyElse. I really don't recall how I landed in her blog and then discovered her shop! But her work is just amazing! Please read her interview I just know you will enjoy it!
1. Tell us as little or as much as you would like about yourself.
My name is Melody DuVal, I live in Indiana near a large Amish community. Aside from the illustrations I do on etsy, I've illustrated four books of short, personal stories from various Amish contributors. I've also illustrated a nursery rhyme book for an Amish lady, though the characters in it aren't depicted as Amish.
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| Card Blank Note Hair Day |
2. What do you sell?
I sell my quirky little illustrations as prints and on note cards. I've been told all my life that my characters belonged on greeting cards. People thought I should try Hallmark or where-ever, but a few years ago I got to chatting with a local printer about costs and realized I could afford to print them myself.3. Why handmade?
When I started it was the easiest way to do things. I didn't have particular attachment to the handmade movement, just getting my art seen. But I really enjoy being able to make things for people that are a little more personal and off the beaten path.
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| Illustration Print For a Dream |
4. Where does your inspiration to create come from and/or your inspiration in life?
People, mostly. The clothes they wear, the way they sit or stand or arrange their hands. The things they love or hate. I love the feeling that I've captured a little bit of that.
5. Besides creating what else do you do? Do you have a full time job?
I have a full time job as a graphic designer and illustrator. So, more of the same. It's an addiction. Extremely unhealthy. I love it.
6. When did you start thinking you were an artist?
When I was 5, maybe? I've known for a very long time that I wanted to be an artist. It's not that I didn't consider a thousand different careers, it's just that I always had more fun drawing pictures of what that career would be like than I did doing any of the things related to those careers. |
Charles M. Schultz and Bill Watterson were big influences. I loved their comic strips (Peanuts and Calvin & Hobbes, respectively) and when I was young I looked closely to see how they created a nose by just drawing the barest essence of a nose. I was appalled and fascinated by the way they created the appearance of an object without drawing what it really looked like.
Also, my mom, she's an artist too and she draws adorable little cartoon characters. When I was young I would be fascinated by the way her hand flew over the paper and magically created exactly what she wanted. I dreamed of having that much control over my pencil.
8. Where would you like to be in five years?
Oh, hard to say, I see so many possibilities. I would like to be doing more illustrating, in the future.
9. Is there anything you'd like to try doing that you haven't done? crafts, sports, life in general?
I'd like to visit some places I haven't been, England, Ireland, Australia. I think there's more scope for the imagination when you've seen more of the world.10. Besides online where else do you sell?
I get commissions from friends or friends of friends, I participate in the occasional craft fair or coffee shop feature.
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| Dancer Illustration |
ways to contact you:
shop: www.everybodyelse.etsy.com - my etsy shop has extremely affordable prints on kromekote paper or original illustrations.
shop:www.artflakes.com/en/shop/melodyduval - my artflakes shop is still handmade, even the printing, but it's done in Germany and not by me. There are a lot more options though if you want a really gorgeous canvas or a poster size print.
blog: www.everybodyillustrated.blogspot.com
facebook: www.facebook.com/everybodyelse.art
twitter: @everybodyelse01
Oh! I love her style! The characters are so fun!!!! ~Val
ReplyDeleteI love it! I really admire artists and those that can draw. Such a cute style :)
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