Come fly with me

Took my toddler flying with me today and she loved it. What about you?

Just added this brand-new print to my Etsy shop! You can check out the full lineup of aerial fox posters right here. And don’t worry — I haven’t abandoned Inktober! I just might have forgotten to take photos of my latest drawings… update coming soon!

Hello Mr Aerial Fox

It was about time for him to make a come back… Let’s call it my Inktober contribution.

Find the printable version here. And a selection of all aerial foxes here.

From this…

Aerial fox _ Inktober_Melanie Franz

to this…

Aerial Mr Fox ink drawing _Melanie Franz
Aerial Mr Fox ink drawing _Melanie Franz

When everything is up in the air…

Or something like that. It is Inktober and I haven’t found the time yet to get it started. Maybe I’ll try and play catch up at the weekend.

Are you doing Inktober?

Aerial Fox _Inktober _ Melanie Franz

Life is better upside down

It’s been a month since I was on a hoop. I was forced to take a break due to a pulled arm muscle. Patience is not one of my strengths, but I am trying to be smart this time and not make it worse. So I have been doing the next best thing, drawing Mr Fox the aerialist. It has been a while since he has made an appearance.

Merry Christmas

Who has been missing Mr Fox? Here he is!

Mix of ink, paper, coloured pencils and digital.

Have a happy holiday!

2303 fox card Christmas tree_Melanie Franz

Christmas all the way

Still missing wrapping paper? I have been playing around with pattern making and it turned out to be a lot of fun. It’s also easier than I though it would be.

Fox xmas wrapping paper_Melanie Franz

Get your Mr Fox now

Last day to get your free Mr Fox ebook.

This was my first ever book project and my attempt at writing a story. And I am still quite happy with it.

I had no idea what I was doing back then when it came to story and book layout. I certainly improved since then. I am excited about the current project I am working on. Will be sharing it soon.

8 selfie Mr Fox_Melanie Franz

Space Friends

I took an illustrator course in February which pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to do my first digital drawing. I also learned how to do design sheets and pattern designs. I also became a lot better with my time management and to-do lists… somewhat 🙂

If anyone is looking for a great course, I can highly recommend this one at WeIllustrate.co.uk.

Happy Monday!

Illustration practice IV

Another slight changed master copy. My favourite so far. It will get a spot on the wall for sure. You might be familiar with the boat crew. Original illustration by Janosch.

Ink and watercolour.

Have a great weekend!

My version

22 Janosh Fox fishing _Melanie Franz

The original by Janosch.

Illustration practice III

Another attempt at a master copy with my own spin. As a child I absolutely loved the stories and illustrations by Janosch. Maybe you have come across the Tigerente (lit. tiger duck)at some point? Absolutely love his whimsical style and his bear and tiger character. However, instead of copying his character I sneaked in Mr Fox’s cousin.

22 Janosh _Fox boat_Melanie Franz

Forest Party

Another older illustration of mine from winter 2021. I think it was right after I bought another bunch of my Caran d´ache Luminance pencils and one of the first attempts to use them.

The illustration is watercolour, ink and coloured pencils on cold press paper.

A forest party of my favourite animal characters.

2111 Forest party_watercolour ink _ Melanie Franz

Colour me in

I got bored so I started colouring in my capybara drawings!

If you want to do the same, you can find this little Mr Fox and capybara illustration in my Capybara and Friends – Colouring book.

2201 Capybara fishing turtles_Melanie Franz

Stormy Seas

Another Inktober 21 drawing that I didn´t post previously.

Apparently I do enjoy drawing boats, but I don´t like to be in them. Also we had now in average one storm per week for he past 2 months. Good winter in Iceland. Other countries have spring, I´ve been told….

311030 Inktober boat_Melanie Franz

Art vs Artist III

Once I got into doing these image collections, I couldn’t stop. So here is another retrospect of drawings of last year. I had pretty much forgotten about the honey badger series I did!

They are also still available in my Society 6 shop in case you are looking or an original present.

And the fox drawings are part of my Mr Fox Colouring Book.

Art vs Artist 2021_Melanie Franz

Art vs. Artist

There was this art vs artist posts on Instagram and I am late to the party but this was the image I put together.

It has been a though year with many downs put I have certainly learned a lot illustration wise. I still feel like I have a long way to go until I get to where I want my illustrations to be, but hey, it’s a journey.

Curious to see how my style and skills will further develop throughout the year.

What are you looking forward to?

Art vs Artist 2021_Melanie Franz

Silly me

Fishing for turtles?…..

This silly Mr Fox is also part of my latest Capybaras & Friends Colouring Book.

Capybara colouring book Melanie Franz

Pack Your Cart

Have you done your Christmas shopping yet? Or you are like me and you keep it to a minimum and focus more on good company and food?

Anyway, I just updated my “shop” drawing, combining my latest characters.

And if you are actually still looking for last minute presents then take a look at my latest book releases

Picture Perfect – A Mr Fox Story

Capybaras and Friends – Colouring Book

The Adventures of Mr Fox – Colouring Book

2112 shopping cart honey badger_ Melanie Franz

Picture Perfect

Looking for another last minute Christmas present?

I finished project #2. My first own little story about the adventures of Francis Fox. Join him on his quest to take the perfect picture.

The book is available here as paperback or eBook.

Happy 4th Advent!

Picture Perfect Mr Fox Melanie Franz