Melissa Sweet-Illustrator

Biography: Melissa Sweet is an award winning children's illustrator. She was born and raised in Wyckoff, New Jersey. She attended Edicott Junior College in Massachusetts where she received an Associate's Degree. She then studied art at the Kansas City Institute. She spent some time doing commercial art and has created greeting cards, posters and handmade books. Since entering the world of children's books by illustrating the first of Janes Howe's Pinky and Rex series and has since published over sixty titles. Her illustrations have appeared on many genre's of books including series fiction and non fiction subjects. When Melissa was young, she and her brothers loved to ride their bikes all over town and would play many games to keep themselves entertained. It was around third grade where she realized her talent for art and illustration. She was not a very good reader and always believed she would become an artist. She has credited her family's love of art and projects as part of her inspiration to become what she is today. She originally dreamed of being a potter but during her first year of college fell in love with drawing. As a child, her father would read her Little Bear illustrated by Maurice Sendak and this book reappeared at a crucial time in Melissa's life. During that first year of college this book was reintroduced to her and she began to think that her style of art might work in children's books. Melissa loved learning about the process of art; how to use tools and figuring out how different materials work together. She took classes in calligraphy, papermaking, blacksmithing and welding. However, her primary interest was still books. She began designing greeting cards and hand made books and in 1985 put together a portfolio. She took her portfolio to New York City where she received her first job illustrating the first book in Jane Howe's Pinky and Rex series. Melissa now lives with her husband and step-daughter in a small, working town near the coast of Maine. She has recently finished a book she wrote and illustrated entitled "Carmine: A Little More Red". 

Notable Accomplishments: Many of the books Melissa Sweet has illustrated have won various awards. "For Catherine Thimmesh’s The Sky’s the Limit: Stories of Discoveries by Women, Melissa created a notebook-like effect with watercolors and collage over lined paper to simulate a working researcher or naturalist. The result is a book in which the form perfectly matches the text, and this title was included on lists of both the Notable Social Studies Trade Books and the Outstanding Science Trade Books, as well as winning the 2003 Minnesota Book Award for younger nonfiction" -Quote from Melissa's Website. Some of her other illustrated books have been recognized as Notable Social Studies Trade Books. "One of her very first books,  Talking Pot , was named an American Booksellers “Pick of the Lists.” The Dirty Laundry Pile won a Texas Bluebonnet Award and was named a Children’s Book of Distinction by the Riverbank Review. Llama in Pajamas received a Parents Choice Award and Bouncing Time garnered an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award. Also, The Sleepy Little Alphabet is on Oprah's 2010 Kids' Reading List."-Quote from Melissa's Website (referenced below).

Sweet used acrylics to achieve the deep, rich colors of the moon lit night  

"I find that each book calls for something different and I spend a lot of time trying to figure exactly how I’m going to do my art and what materials I’m going to use."-Sweet. Melissa reads each manuscript she receives several times and uses a variety of elements to create her artwork. She does not stick to one specific medium, she decides what is best for each individual story. Her most commonly used mediums are acrylics, watercolors and collage. I have noticed that she has a very unique way of illustrating people. Her human characters are identical in each book she illustrates, almost as if it were her "signature". Her style is a mix of realism and cartoon art. Her drawings do represent accurate and faithful representations of the objects she's drawing but they have a child-like appearance to them. Some of her work is also collage work which is a separate style. Sweet illustrates many types of books, all of which could have a purpose in the classroom. She illustrates books for all ages and reading abilities, which allows her books to be used in different classroom settings. I would consider using her books in my classroom. 

Additional Information: 

http://www.melissasweet.net/index2.php

Focus Question: Do you notice specific patterns in Melissa's illustrations? What draws you to her illustrations?