Natalie Melinek

Inside, Caz drew wide the curtains. Sunlight streamed in and the woman's cloudy eyes opened.
“You're alive then.” She blinked slowly, bruising down her face. Caz almost felt sorry for her.
She sluggishly reached for water. Caz watched. The old lady managed a few loud sips through a straw. #writecbc

I’m sitting in A&E with my son who’s hurt his leg after a back flip (because of course, why not?)
I was quietly sketching away, trying to be subtle when these lovely ladies came over and sat opposite.
‘You can do us if you like!’
So I did. They were so tickled

#kidlitillustration #walktosee

open.substack.com/pub/nataliem...

Late in the day but with the school Easter holidays an' all... Here's my Bologna substack though - enjoy!

Exhausted post Bologna but also feeling gloriously energised to finish off books I’ve been working on. Here’s a little snippet of what I’ve been working on today.

#kidlitillustration #picturebooks #dummybook #traditionalillustration

Time for a bit of hide and seek!
My little ones would often hide in the oddest of places and assume I was too!

#kidlitillustration #kidlitpostcard #childhoodillustrated #pbpitch #seekingrepresentation #kidlitart

This little pair were standing individually in my sketchbook. I’ve now brought them together into their own little scene. Unfortunately, not everyone is enjoying themselves in the snow!

#kidlitillustration #pbpitch #childhoodillustrated #seekingrepresentation #snowballfight

School pick up is a whole lot harder when you’re a frog.

#kidlitillustration #kidlit #watercolourillustration

Wishing for warmer days now! In the meantime, it’s hot chocolate and slippers by the fire whilst painting summer scenes.

#kidlitillustration #pbillustrator #childhoodillustrated #seekingrepresentation

I really enjoyed slowing down with this piece and using my practice session from drawing shoes in a complete image.

Tackling my fears today and working on getting better at drawing feet and shoes. Some more successful than others but hopefully I’ll be a bit braver moving forward!

#kidlitillustration #drawingshoes #observationaldrawing

I’m reworking my website at the moment and looking at ideas for a header piece alongside my name.
Would love your thoughts on this one.

#kidlitillustration #websitedesign

Some lighthearted intentions for the new year. What goals are you setting?
Who is going to Bologna? I’d love to organise meet ups for sketching etc!
If you make an art bingo for yourself, please do tag me as I’d love to see

#goodshipillo #bcbf #newyearintentions #artbingo #bolognabookfair

My son asked if we could sit and do some art together this afternoon. I couldn’t resist doing a little study of his beautiful face as he painted.

#kidlitillustration #portrait #sketchbook #goodshipillo #illustrationdept #childhoodillustrated #walktosee #sketchbookstudy #picturebookillustration

A wonderful Quentin Blake Workshop with the London Drawing Group

Merry Christmas all!

I went to this a few weeks ago. Absolutely extraordinary to see his processes and development. Such a treat!

Steve forgot Mandy’s birthday. Again.

I have absolutely no idea where I’m going with this, but I’m really enjoying drawing stroppy bunnies in my sketchbook!

#sketchbook #rabbitagram #characterplay #characterdevelopment #kidlitillustration #kidlitillustrator #sketchbookplay

Steve was not impressed.

Fiddling about drawing rabbits, struggling to think of what to draw and thought I may as well draw SOMETHING and this chap decided to step forward to tell me to just blimmin well get on with it.

Alright Steve.

#sketchbookplay #kidlitillustration #kidlitillustrator

A little piece straight from the sketchbook. I’m trying really hard to, well, stop trying so hard. I find this a much more comfortable way of working.

An absolutely magical day at The Design Museum visiting the Tim Burton exhibition with the fabulous @jenjamieson.bsky.social

#illustration #timburton #animation #designmuseumlondon

A little close up from a dummy I’m working on at the moment that will soon be looking for a home.

It’s summer holidays and with four kids at home, time to make is precious and infrequent. I get the odd moment though and I’m carrying on work on a book that’s very special to me.

#goodshippicturebooks #illodept #grief #wordlessbook #pbpitch #seekingrepresentation #goodshipillo #kidlitillustration

Pages and pages of sketches and every so often, something pops up that I love.

#kidlit #dummybooks #sketchbook #pbpitch

One of my favourite parts of book making is the process of experimenting with colour and composition and making sure each spread packs as much storytelling and emotion into it as possible.

#kidlitillustration #pbpitch

It’s my eldest son’s birthday today. 15 years old. How on earth did that happen?

#illustration #comicbook #comicstrip #qbcentre #kidlitillustration #pbillustration #parentingillustration #parentingfunny #motherandson #kidlitillustration #goodshipillo

Evening all. Here’s a little Friday night challenge for you. Who can name this football club? Bonus points if you can name the decade the reference photo was taken.

Well, outside of illustration, I’m a music buff (and a singer in a band incidentally!). What sort of thing are you into?

Thank you - I’ll definitely look them up!

Fox in the woods at nighttime. There is an owl in the tree and the two creatures are looking at eachother. A house can be seen in the distance behind the trees.

So here I am, welcoming myself to Bluesky. Getting thoroughly confused with the multitude of Twitter alternatives. Is this a nice place to hang out?