Dogs dogs dogs

For all the dog people out there, I have been drawing dogs all weekend. Well, actually the same dog over an over again. Character design for my new book! I will be giving you a sneak peak soon, so watch this space.

Meanwhile I am still enjoying these two. The sun came finally back to Reykjavik but so came the wind and it feels like – 24 degrees Celsius out there…

Mood Today

After a week of rain and wind, the best attempts to stay motivated seem to fail… Tea, blanket, sketchbook and movie it is.

Capybara King_Melanie Franz

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.

What’s the Weather?

I finally managed to finish the weather book! What started as a fun way to get over my creative block last spring, is now finally finished! Last spring I was stuck and a friend suggested to try something I have never done before. That’s what started this paper-cut project.

The finished project is a picture book that takes you through the seasons with funny weather pictures. You can see more of those in my earlier posts like here and here.

The book will be released on Wednesday the 22nd, just in time for my daughters first birthday! Until then you can find the kindle version here if you would like to take a look.

The Weather Today VIII

We maxed out the amazing hiking weather we had the last week, and now it is back to Iceland’s usually windy self….

The Weather Today VI

The sunshine didn’t last long. Beside a good amount of little earthquakes today, it is also back to the usual windiness …

The Weather Today III

Another page from my upcoming picture book.

There seems to be no change to weather here for the next couple of days it seem. Soon I´ll be running out of bad weather pictures to post.

2302 Cat rain miserable paper-cut illustration _Melanie Franz

The Weather Today II

Yep, the weather here is not improving.

Another page from my almost finished picture book. Paper & Gouache.

2302 Rain storm paper cut illustration _Melanie Franz

The Weather Today

Seems summer is temporarily cancelled in Iceland.

Another page of my upcoming picture book.

2302 rain storm cat paper cut illustration_Melanie Franz

What´s the weather today?

As mentioned in my last post, I tried something completely different and made a picture book out of paper cut outs. The rain drops are gouache. It was so much fun!

Image fitting the weather today….Ah Icelandic summer…..

2302 rain paper-cut illustration _Melanie Franz

Hello, who are you? II

Part II of this little story. An illustration from last year. I haven´t done part III yet…. will do so today. The weather is the same here as in the picture.

Part I you find here.

2203 great dane and duck_watercolour_Melanie Franz

Pumpkin Delivery Service

Happy October 1st!

It’s the beginning of Inktober! I haven’t started with the Inktober sketch just yet but will get to it soon.

Meanwhile I tried to draw something a bit different, inspired by a Draw this in your style challenge on Instagram . I haven’t really been doing people illustrations for children’s books, but I think I am quite happy with my first attempt.

What do you think?

Relax while you can

Sun is shining, the weather is sweet. No more cats and dogs, nevertheless I drew a dog.

Let´s say he is sunbathing and enjoying the warmth.

Should I draw a cat tomorrow?

I Hate Camping

Ok, maybe that´s a bit too harsh. Let´s put it that way. I don´t entirely dislike it but I am definitely a good weather camper. Or glamper!

Camping in the Icelandic highlands this summer in perfect conditions was the best that could have happened and I thoroughly enjoyed it. But I do want good food, a cosy mattress and sunshine. Otherwise I will be miserable.

201028 Inktober_Storm_Rain_Melanie Franz