Winter is here!

First snow arrived, just on time for my daughters birthday and the What’s the Weather book release!

The project came to life when I had a creative blog and bought a bunch of colourful paper last spring. The dining room table was covered in paper and glue for about a month I think. The results can be seen here in this very colourful picture book for 1-3 years old.

It not only helped me through my creative block, but it is also a fun way to go through the seasons and different kind of weather.

Vertical snow fall is rare in Iceland. It usually hits you horizontally. Just like that. This is an almost accurate depiction of me going to the car today.

Meet the Artist

Adding a new piece to my portfolio. Almost happy how it turned out. This is the third version. Ink, watercolour and coloured pencils on mixed media paper.

2304 Meet the Artist_Melanie Franz

Illustration practice

Last year I did a couple of master copies of famous artworks. This one is based on ‘Smokey Face’ by N.C. Wyeth.

Watercolour and coloured pencil.

2203 The horse_Melanie Franz

Day 3 – Time

I painted the first thing that came to mind when I grabbed the paintbrush

. Time is not linear. Time also takes you one a journey…

Quick sketch, therefore forgive the sloppiness…

Day 2 – Passion

Putting colour on a blank surface and nature, that´s what I love. So here are both combined in this prompt for World Watercolor Month.

The Bird

Inspired by an illustration by Souther Salazar. Wanted to try something else and just have fun with colour and different media…

2203 the bird_Melanie Franz

Join me in my garden

Another scene from my Capybara and Friends – Colouring book which I colored in with Chameleon markers. Just for the fun of it.

Meanwhile it’s still snowing here. I don´t think we can expect spring before June this year…

2201 Capybara flora and fauna_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

Art vs Artist

I made a last one of these Art vs Artists collages. Also more for me as I enjoyed taking a look at my work from last year.

Below are my first proper attempts of watercolour illustrations. I still feel like I have a long way to go. But practice makes you maybe not perfect, but better bit by bit.

Happy weekend!

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

Me in my Imaginary Garden

Full blown snow storm raging outside. So its nice to be inside all warm and cozy, dreaming of imaginary worlds.

This nature capybara is also part of my latest Capybaras & Friends Colouring Book.

Flora and fauna capybara _Melanie Franz

Capybaras are Excellent Swimmers

Capybaras have webbed feet and it makes them excellent swimmers.

They can dive and hold their breath for five minutes at a time, and their ears fold back when they are underwater so they never have to worry about water getting stuck in their ears.


This diving capybara is also part of my latest Capybaras & Friends Colouring Book.

Diving Capybara_ 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

Going on More Fox Adventures

For those of you who are not fed up yet with Mr Francis Fox and Konstantin Mouse (yes, those are the names I seem to have settled for, what do you think?), here is a little teaser of my first own Mr Fox story!

I have been working on this book for a while now, struggling especially with the fact that I am not a writer. So it will be more of a picture story for young children than a literary masterpiece….

Have a great weekend!

Walking forest Mr Fox_Melanie Franz

Never Lose your Sense of Wonder

Old drawing from the very beginnings of Mr Fox, but I still very much like it.

This is also part of the Mr Fox Colouring Book.

Fox fireflies _ Melanie Franz

Inktober Day 18 – Moon

First thing that came to mind for this prompt was mooning. Don´t ask me why!

Have you ever mooned someone?