Illustration is like opening a present - you never know who or what you will be asked to draw. This week I was super excited to be asked to draw comedian, Amy Schumer, whom I adore! The portrait is for the cover of this weeks' Chicago Tribune Printers Row Magazine and supports the review of Schumer's new memoir, "The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo".
Invite Only
I did this fun little illustration for the "End of the Line" section in the August issue of Main Line Today for the article, "A Couch Surfer's Guide to the Shore - How to Mooch Your Way into the Good Graces of Your More Fortunate Friends", by Katie Bambi-Kholer. The story entails a list of what (and what not) to do list to get yourself on the invite list to your friend's seaside vacation rental.
It's the perfect light read during some recent heavy summer weather and news headlines. I had a good time dreaming up the tiny seaside getaway of my imagination for this one - a nice little escape from everything. I can almost feel the ocean breezes as I sit here and melt in my second floor studio.
Check out the article below for some tips on getting your summertime mooch on! A special shout out and thank you to Cristela at Main Line Today for Art Direction.
Enjoy!
A few months back I was contacted by Georgia Institute of Technology to illustrate a portrait of Dean Gary S. May for the cover of the College of Engineering magazine. This portrait illustration will be featured on an upcoming issue of "Georgia Tech Engineers". Although it is not yet published I do have permission to post the illustration. It is such an honor to have been able to create such great work for one of the leading Universities in the world. Thank you to everyone at Georgia Tech who helped with your direction and feedback.
Dean Gary S. May in front of iconic Tech Tower at Georgia Institute of Technology.
Years ago at an old place of work, a co-worker who had gotten to know me and my fascination with morbid science gave me a book that they had read titled, "Stiff: the Curious Lives of Human Cadavers". The author, Mary Roach, spun an informed and enthralling account of all of the different and sometimes interesting "adventures" that can happen to your body when you die and donate it to science. I won't go into detail (read the book!) but I will tell you that some of those things go far beyond your regular old medical student anatomy class dissection.
When I was asked to draw Mary Roach for this week's Printers Row Journal, I finally got to put a face with the woman who has written so many great scientific non fiction titles including, "Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife", "Gulp: Adventure on the Alimentary Canal" and other methodical tales that answer all of those questions in the back of your mind that you were always afraid to ask.
Her new book called, "Grunt, the Science of Humans at War", is featured in this week's Printers Row Magazine. I have not read the book but National Geographic Journalist, Simon Worrall describes, "War is Hell. Mary Roach met the folks who make it less so. These "white hat military scientists" try to keep soldiers alive and comfortable."
Printers Row Magazine cover featuring illustrated portrait of Mary Roach.
I try to send out email campaigns to existing and prospective clients twice a month (more or less depending on my schedule) and then follow up with a print campaign once or twice a quarter. I think it's really important to reach people with print because email can so easily go straight to the trash or spam folder and then quickly be forgotten. Many prospective clients are so busy that they don't want to receive emails at all. Getting a physical printed piece in the mail is different than getting an email, it gives an art director something to hang on to and if they really like it they might file it away and contact you for a future assignment. I usually get at least one or two jobs after I send out a printed piece so it is worth the time,money energy that I put into it.
A few weeks back I put together an email and coinciding print campaign with my "Good Bad and Ugly" presidential portraits. I usually send out a postcard but this was a much larger and more expensive mailer. The mailer consisted of four over sized double-sided presidential postcards, a note, a business card and my very own "presidential" Melcher 2016 campaign sticker. All inside a brown grocery bag stock envelope with my crossed stylus logo sticker on the back. It was a lot of work and money but I've gotten a great response from it so far. Several art directors even emailed me kudos - which was really nice. I know how freaking busy they are and taking the time out of their schedules to say that the cards brightened their days was totally worth it for me.
I created a small gallery of snapshots from the whole process. Click through it to see all of the photos and the GIGANTIC (and heavy) boxes of envelopes at the end!
Enjoy!
