The Illustrator
Melissa Solley is a life-long artist and creative professional residing in Seattle, Washington. Her work has been seen at several shows with Red Door Studio Gallery (Sacramento, CA) and has been featured on film and on stage. Melissa is a published children's book illustrator, Disco Loves to Dance by Brian Barlics, and runs an Etsy shop where she sells her prints and other work. Melissa's primary career goal is to make the world a better place using her creative gifts to inspire others.
Paintings & Digital Illustration
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Charcoal & Graphite
Concepts, & Thumbnails
Experience
Art Instructor
Melissa is a children's art teacher in the Pacific Northwest.
Art Director,
Freelance Illustrator
& Graphic Designer
Develops decorative and design focused imagery for clients, including children's books, e-book illustrations, and custom painting commissions. Examples include (but aren't limited to):
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Disco Loves to Dance by Brian Barlics, Illustrated by Melissa Solley.
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"The Green Lady with a Rose" custom watercolor for The Bonney Grey Inn.
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Advanced Screening by Ben Haskett
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Portrait Illustration for Independent Film (Sleeping Beauty on IMDb)
Extreme Imagination Conference 2021
One of several artist selected for the 2021 Extreme Imagination Conference held by the Aphantasia Network.
Red Door
Studio Gallery (Gallery Shows)
One of several artist selected to display in a mixed media showcase in Sacramento, California.
Education
Illustration (A.A.) - Comic Emphasis
Originally a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) student, Melissa Solley transferred to the Associate of Arts (A.A.) program so she could obtain her A.A. while on her journey to complete her B.F.A. and is nearly finished.
Skills & Proficiencies
Digital Software
Proficiency and understanding of the following programs:
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Adobe Photoshop
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Adobe InDesign
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Adobe Premiere Pro
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Clip Studio Paint
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Procreate
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Canva
Traditional Media
Primary subjects include portraiture, concept art, and comic illustration in the following media:
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Oil Paints
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Graphite
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Charcoal
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Gouache
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Watercolor
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Inks (e.g. India Ink)
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Gold Leaf
