Hello!

I’m Manelle,
and I have a question for you.

What inspired you to become an artist?

For Me, it Was Stories

I remember my mom reading “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” to me before I was old enough to read it on my own. I remember watching shows like Faerie Tale Theatre, and Start Trek the Next Generation (That’s how old I am guys) and being absolutely entranced. 

What I didn’t realize at the time was how much I was learning from these stories and how much they were connecting me to the people I love. 

Stories Teach Us

As we journey through Narnia with Lucy, Edmund, Peter, and What’s-her-face (Jk it’s Susan). We see these children making choices. Watching Lucy stand strong as she tried to convince her siblings that Narnia was real taught us about the power of standing up to opposition. Watching Edmund make the wrong choice when he trusted the witch helped us know what not to do.

Stories Connect Us

I remember those moments reading with my mom and watching Star Trek with my dad. My oldest brother and I still quote old Faerie Tale Theatre Quotes to each other and laugh about them. These stores give us a shared experience and bind us together. 

Why Am I Telling You This?

Because if you’re like me and you grew up with an incurable desire to create, there are times you feel guilty about spending your time working on your art.

I hope these examples of how stories have affected me brought to mind some similar examples from your own life. Next time you sit down to create, think about how much art has helped you and be excited that you have the amazing power to enrich your life and the lives of others.

My Story

A quick summary of who I am and my path to becoming an author and illustrator.

Sept 1981
1986
1997-2000
2000-2004
Feb 2005
2006
May 2012
Aug 2014
Oct 2021
Books
Years Experience
Years Teaching
Year Illustration Degree
Freelance Clients
Cats (Because cats are fun)

Learn More About Manelle

If you’d like to learn more about my journey as an artist, and my thoughts about art style, storytelling, and more, I’ve been a guest on these podcasts.

My Interview with Keaton Harris from the Inktober team • November 2021
My Interview on the Make More Art podcast by Etchr • Febuary 2021
My interview with One Fantastic Week Podcast• August 2017

Work with me to build your own illustration career.

In the Illustration Business Masterclass, I’ll walk you through every step as you create a professional illustration portfolio, present it, and find amazing illustration clients.

  • Opening again in 2024

Media and Press Kit

Click below for my full press kit including bios and hi-res photos.