Long-term comic fans know the name Adriana Melo– The incredible artist behind the title Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy,,,,, Ms. Marveland Doctor Who. With her career as some of the largest publishers in the industry, her dynamic storytelling and expressive role work has made her a fan favorite.
Now Melo is celebrating her art journey Art by Adriana MeloThis is an amazing series launched on Zoop on February 11. edit Erica Schultz (Daughty Devil, Halloween Eve), this book shows a range of artworks, from fanatical sketches to nails, complex inks to vibrant full-color works, namely Marvel, DC, DC, Titan The roles of Comics, Comicsology, etc.
Beats reached out via email to talk about her latest projects and celebrations of her work!
Diego Higuera: Adriana, your career in the comics industry is incredible, can you share the way you started as an artist, and what initially attracted you Comic art?
Adriana Melo: I have always loved painting because I am very young and comics have always been part of my daily life. I used to read comics both during breakfast or before going to bed. Every night, I fall asleep my favorite comics. So it has been my dream to always work as a comic artist. I only started reading superhero comics as a teenager, and what made me fall in love with comics was discovering the various types (comedy, horror, adventure) that comics can bring. For me, it was a discovery because until then I only thought that the art of order was childish and bright, without much complexity. Still, in high school we were appointed to work on homework, copying comic pages in any style we wanted. I chose Excalibur, drawn by Alan Davis, who became my favorite artist, I was my first and had an influence. Inspired by Excalibur, I began to study Davis’s line works, narratives, backgrounds, etc. After attending the comic convention in São Paulo, I commented on two Brazilian professionals who worked at Marvel at the time. They loved my material and got me in touch with their agents and a few months later I made my first comic book, Iron Man.
Higuera: Over the years, your art style has evolved. How do you describe your artistic journey and are there any critical moments or projects that will help shape your current style?
Merlot: It evolved because my style was ultimately influenced by movies, books, travel, and basically everything added to my artistic evolution. I was very curious about exploring new styles, materials and artists, and I tend to improve without real-time experiments on new poses or new markers, new papers, new pens, new tools, new tools, new improvements My work, with a kind of “ah, moment…even if some warm-up sketches are needed.
Higuera: You’ve worked in iconic characters before, how do you handle the design of these well-known characters, and are you under any pressure to meet the expectations of your fans or creators?
Merlot: Oh, like every project I started! LOL I think I’m the hardest guy, my own work, this feeling always improves posture, details, background and finishes the page, which means making it more important than actually feeling like I One work has been completed. So imagine a story that comes up, and I’m going to draw characters I meet and fall in love with during adolescence. It’s part of the trembling in my belly when I think about this story and importance, so to speak, the Trinity is available in DC and to me a comic fan
Higuera: The art of your forthcoming book, Adriana Melo, gives fans a glimpse into your creative process over the years. What is it like to put this book together and what do you hope your fans will take away from it?
Merlot: “Putting this book together is much more complicated than I thought, because that was when I realized how many art I just stored in the drawer in the studio that I had never seen for a day. I think, If I included everything, the pages of this book would be four times higher than today’s page. What I can say is that I included some of the works I cherish most about (the movies/characters I like) in this book. Fan Art). I also have a few sketches in my performances and work, and I just like it because I want to add something from that character to my portfolio. That’s why I think fans know about these works written in this book It would be interesting reasons.”
Higuera: This book shows a wide variety of art, from sketches and illustrations to completely colorful works. How do you create a piece from beginning to end, and what is the process of transitioning between sketch, ink, and color?
Merlot: “For covers, pages and even warm-up sketches, my process is usually the same: I start the process by watching anime, browsing the artist books I admire and making a cup of coffee. All of this is to make the work start feel inspired and energetic. I usually draw 3 or 4 different camera angles for each illustration and then choose the camera angle that best suits that initial idea, one that formed in my mind when I first read the script. This is always the most Interesting.
Higuera: You have worked with renowned writers and editors such as Erica Schultz. As an artist, what does collaboration mean to you and how can working with editors affect your process?
Merlot: Indeed, I think cooperation is essential for the cohesion of an art book, comic book, etc. Finally, every book I’ve been involved in, ultimately brings me the greatest joy and pride, which is an open communication with my writers. The idea is to build the book together, exchange ideas, and develop the story through a writer-artist partnership. I’ve been friends with Erica Schultz for a long time and I love her job. I know she will help my brain stay focused on what’s important in this book. ”
Higuera: For aspiring cartoonists looking up to you, would you give them advice on building a career in this highly competitive industry?
Merlot: “What I can say is that while it is a very competitive market, it can also adjust the antenna to search for new styles and show that the work of personality always draws attention. What I want to say is , keep an open mind, constantly improve your technology, update your style, and try to bring new technology into your daily work, which is essential to stay relevant in a dynamic market like comics. It is also very important to communicate consistency and to achieve deadline consistency while maintaining quality.”
Check Art by Adriana Melo the following! And, if you are interested, be sure to check out the campaign here before the event disappears!
