New Book!

Yes ! I’m excited to annouce the new book I have out with Kane Miller Publishing. “Spacely” was written by Lynn Parrish Sutton and illustrated by yours truly. It’s a very sweet book and I hope you get a chance to take a look at it. And if you feel like it buy a copy. All the illustrations were done in cut paper. No surprise there. Here is camera shy me with a copy.

You can get a copy from your local book store or go directly to Kanemiller.com and order directly from them.

I have been having way too much fun illustrating and making fun artwork. I started a few months ago making paper with my Gelly plate. It’s a squishy surface that you put paint on it and roll it around with a brayer, then place paper on the surface of the squishy gelly plate and make a print. I learned how to do it from Youtube.

This is a picture of the Gelly plate and some paper I made.

Okay, and here are some illustrations/artwork that I did using the wonderful papers I made on the Gelly plate.

“She was a Ferocious Reader” cut paper

“ He had a Fancy Hat” cut paper

I love the backgrounds I’m getting. I guess it’s nice to love what you do. I’m a lucky person.

Take care everyone. And if you have not gone out and been vaccinated. Please do so. It’s really important. Enough people have died over this horrible virus.

What on earth have I been up too?

Well, I’m fine. My husband and I are staying home. Like everyone else I’m sure. At the start of the pandemic we did lose our beloved Lois. Lois was our little corgi. She died of cancer. She would have been 11 years old in May. It was a very aggressive form of cancer. So, it all happened very fast. Of coarse we were both devastated by this loss. But, to my shock and surprise, my husband announced a few weeks later, that he wanted another dog. We started our search for a new friend and housemate. We found a nice woman in Milton Freewater, Oregon who raises Corgi’s. I sent her a message and she told me that we were in luck, she had puppies coming in May 2020. So, I signed us up for a girl pup! Knowing that we might have to wait for a girl. I just like girl dogs. Always have. The boy dogs I’ve had are always running away. Even after they get fixed. Anyway, Hazel Louise was born on May 17, 2020 and we went to pick her up in July. It was our first outing since the whole pandemic started. We were very, very careful. Hazel has fit into our life nicely. She is totally in charge. We do as she asks. It’s just easier.

Hazel at about 7 months old. We thing she will grow into those ears. But, who knows?

Step by Step

So, I’m madly getting ready for an art show in my hometown of Albany, Oregon. But, while I’m working on some new pieces of art, I thought I would take photos as I went along. So you can see how easy it is to make art with cut paper. Now, I say easy, but I have been working as an artist for quite a few years. So, keep in mind practice makes perfect and I have not achieved perfect yet. Anyway, I start with a sketch. Then…

I start with some watercolor paper to build my work on. It’s sturdy and works for me. Some people like illustration board. That works great too. As you probably already know I like to paint my own paper. I just use drawing paper and acrylic paint. I squirt paint out on the paper and move it around with an old credit card or gift card. This seems to spread the paint nicely and it drys fast. Then, I ad more layers of paint or stamp designs or shapes I even stencil a bit. I like to paint a lot of different paper so I have a nice variety to work with.

So, now I have cut out some grassy shapes and glued that down. I’m not worried about the edges being a wonky. This will be covered up with the frame. You can see that I just mix paint on the paper as I go. It’s really fun.

Oh, look! I added a rabbit. On this Rabbit friend I used a bit of scrapbook paper for his tail, tummy and neck. Scrapbook paper can come in very handy. This guy was built separately using hand painted papers I also used a white pencil to draw some of his fur.

The next step was to add some foreground grass. You can see in this photo that the glue is not quite dry yet. But, it will all dry flat and lovely. I hope.

I added a few more grass images in the front to add more contrast and interest. I think it’s finished!

Here it is all framed and ready to go. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope you enjoyed the visit.

The Process

I don’t know if you like to see how something is done or maybe the steps to get to the next place. But, I love to see that. Especially, with artwork.

I’m going to show you my really rough sketch. This picture was taken right out of my sketchbook. So, this is how an illustration or in this case a piece of art starts. It’s just an idea. You can see in the lower left corner a small sketch of the lambs face. Also, a dog or something, that I scribbled out. Didn’t like that one.

This is the baby lamb that I built out of paper and glue. I painted the paper with acrylic paint. I made several different shades of grey. Then on one sample of grey paper I also did some stamping. These shapes are made with a hand made rubber stamp. I just turn it different ways to make a crosshatch pattern.

This is the finished piece. The mama sheep was built out of paper as well as the grass and flowers. The barn and trees in the background was added last. I also decided to paint the sky. Because my lamb was not showing up enough.

This piece of art was created on a canvas and covered in old paper from books I collect. After the canvas is covered, I can start building the with the rest of the objects. I use an acrylic medium to glue down the objects and also go over the entire piece with this medium. It’s a very sticky project. But, fun.

Some New Things

Hi Everyone,

I’m not sure anyone even looks at this blog anymore. But, I need to try and post more often. New year, new goals. Time will tell.

I feel like I’m finally getting back to normal after the rush of the holidays. We did had fun! Didn’t go any place or do anything. Just spent time with family and friends. That’s the good stuff.

I did create these sweet bird friends. These are small pieces of art. Probably about 5x7 each. Each is cut paper and I painted all the paper myself. I find that I’m happier with the colors if I just go ahead and paint my own paper. You can see some stamp like shapes in these designs. Those are rubber stamps I made too! Anyway, I think the stamps make it a bit more interesting.

The top image is called “Bird Queen” for obvious reasons. The lower image is called “Bird Baby” also pretty obvious title. I like to keep things simple if I can.

Thanks for stopping by. I’ll try and post new artwork more often. Please share, I have almost no followers. Sad but true.

New Book !

The book I illustrated last year has been published! So, happy to see the finished product. I’m always relieved when the color in the book is true to the original artwork. Anyway, this was published by Benchmark Educational Pub. It’s for 3rd graders and it’s a play about what happens to Jack and his mother after he cuts down the beanstalk. Kind of fun I think.

In Search of a Beanstalk,

By Bryon Cahill

Illustrated by Melissa Saylor

Benchmark Educational Pub.

Rainy Day Artwork

Well, I felt like I got kind of a late start today in my studio, but I did get a bit of work done. Painted some paper, that’s always fun and messy. Then, this little girl and her rabbit friend showed up. I like her. And if a nice red bird stops by to sing you a little song, all the better!

“Peace Rabbit” 4x6 Cut Paper

I've Returned !!!

I have been absent from blogging for so long, I apologize. Life gets busy, as you know. What have you been up to Melissa, you ask? Well lets see, I’ve been moving my art studio back to my home. This is no small task, let me tell you. The move has taken far longer than anticipated. But, the job is complete…mostly. I also traveled to NY for the SCBWI conference (Society of Children’s Book Writers & Ilustrators) in February. It was amazing, had a great time and learned a lot. These conferences always have a huge turn out and you always get something out of them. After I got home, I caught a cold that would not go away, or at least it felt that way. Have not been that sick in years. Anyway, that’s over.

Thought I would post a few new pieces of art. These will probably end up at the gallery (Gallery Calapooia) I show in.

That’s it for now. Thanks for stopping by.

“Turtle” Cut Paper 5x7

“Cat Hat” Cut Paper 5x7

“Fish” Cut Paper 5x7

Day 1...Poisonous

So, there is this October challenge that happens each year. It’s called Inktober and artist can post drawings everyday or once a week. Which ever fits your life. Anyway, I always want to take part in this, and always seem to be late to the party. So, this year, I tried to get myself more organized and I’m going to do my best to follow along and draw something that goes with the daily prompt. Today is Poisonous.

Just Having Some Fun

This is a collage I've been working on for a couple days.  Not sure yet what I will call it.  But, for anyone who is interested, I paint most of my own papers.  I make stamps and also buy some ready made rubber stamps,  and just make as many colors and designs as I can and then start cutting them up and hopefully make something.   I have a rubber stamp that is dots and I use that a lot.  I like dots.  However, the newsprint in the background comes from some old Readers Digest magazines that belonged to my Mother.  She loved Readers Digest.  I found out, much to my surprise that they glue down beautifully to canvas.  I use an acrylic medium to glue the images and papers down.  Then use the same acrylic medium to paint over the whole thing. 

For some reason, I'm really enjoying drawing and creating little mouse creatures.  I like my mice to wear clothes as well.  If I were doing yard work, I would not look this dapper.  But, as you might know, mice have a way about them.

16 x 16 Collage      Melissa Babcock Saylor