https://www.melissawashburn.com/blogRSS for NodeMon, 14 Sep 2026 17:41:46 GMThttps://www.melissawashburn.com/post/i-tried-out-grabie-art-s-watercolor-set699c9c680ce516214dc392cfMon, 23 Feb 2026 18:35:43 GMTMelissa Washburnhttps://www.melissawashburn.com/post/and-it-s-off698125a8e90da4b7522c89bfMon, 02 Feb 2026 22:32:52 GMTMelissa WashburnIf you know me or follow me on social media at all, you know that I LOVE birds. I’ve been a birder for over 10 years, and am lucky enough to live near one of the busiest spring migration routes in North America, along Lake Michigan. I’ve also been a professional illustrator for over a decade, and…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/new-kickstarter-project67574698da44b65da10618f4Thu, 02 May 2024 11:59:47 GMTMelissa WashburnWe finally successfully pulled off our trip to Spain in August, visiting Madrid, Sevilla, and Barcelona during our 9 days there.

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/ten-days-in-spain67574699da44b65da10618f6Thu, 07 Sep 2023 08:13:24 GMTMelissa WashburnThe “Moon Moth” cotton throw blanket I designed last year was such a success that I have decided to add a couple of new designs to my offerings. I now have Moth and Blossoms and Pink Dynastid Beetle designs available for preorder. These blankets are made of recycled cotton fiber in North Carolina by a…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/new-cotton-throw-designs6757469a3a6ab6c2e10bc932Wed, 10 May 2023 06:19:35 GMTMelissa WashburnI’m really excited to start the new year with some fun things already on the calendar. Starting on March 7, I will be teaching a weekly linocut printmaking class at the Chesterton Art Center. More details and registration can be found HERE. Stay tuned for a Saturday fabric printing workshop in April as well. We’re…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/upcoming-classes-and-events6757469e40c39754f4784ee6Tue, 31 Jan 2023 12:02:54 GMTMelissa WashburnIt’s been rough out there on social media lately. Those of us who aren’t adept at video are seeing our visibility and reach plummet. Many artists are very dismayed at what used to be a visual medium essentially giving us the boot. I, like many others, have started to focus on a well-curated monthly newsletter,…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/rethinking-social-media675746a440c39754f4784ef7Mon, 31 Oct 2022 08:37:24 GMTMelissa WashburnEveryone’s favorite drawing challenge is nearly upon us, and I will again be joining some other fantastic author/illustrators to share our Inktober sketches throughout the month! I really hope to play around and create for more than just a couple of prompts, but if nothing else I’ll be posting something inky on Instagram on October…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/inktober-2022675746aa40c39754f4784f09Tue, 27 Sep 2022 10:47:25 GMTMelissa WashburnFirst, the Bad News You may have heard that the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) was added to the IUCN list of endangered species in July. Despite the status of this beautiful creature as an emblem of all things Environmental, we’re not doing enough. In July, I promised to share some information and resources on how…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/some-bad-news-and-some-good-news675746af3a6ab6c2e10bc96aTue, 09 Aug 2022 16:48:01 GMTMelissa WashburnI had such a wonderful experience earlier this year working with Fiber Art Weavers on the moon moth throw blanket that I decided to design another. This 62×62″ recycled cotton throw features barn swallows and a golden sunflower. You can preorder the sunflowers and swallows design now in my shop, with an expected ship time of early…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/new-cotton-throw-design675746b03a6ab6c2e10bc96fMon, 11 Jul 2022 17:31:52 GMTMelissa WashburnA recent bright spot for me in this utterly depressing spring was the IDBF. Did you know that an estimated 8 million birds that flew overhead during just the first 3 days of the festival on their annual migratory journeys? The Lake Michigan shoreline is a major funnel for birds making their journeys every spring…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/indiana-dunes-birding-festival675746b4f1ecc7a61a42bdcdThu, 16 Jun 2022 09:28:07 GMTMelissa WashburnApril 27 is International Raven and Crow Day. There is so much rich myth and folklore from all over the world about these birds, members of the family Corvidae. Who knew? Candace Savage’s brilliant book Bird Brains explores some of the current science on these clever birds; it’s a fascinating read if you’d like to…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/international-raven-and-crow-day675746b4da44b65da1061945Wed, 27 Apr 2022 08:51:44 GMTMelissa WashburnI’m very excited to offer these sustainably-made, US-produced “Moon Moth” cotton throws in my shop. Made of 75% recycled fiber and machine washable, they get softer with use and measure 54×72″. I’m only stocking a limited number, so learn more and order HERE.

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/recycled-cotton-moth-throw675746b553635f8250911892Tue, 15 Mar 2022 15:15:57 GMTMelissa WashburnAlmost ten years ago I created an illustration of the proverb “How Do You Eat an Elephant? One Bite at a Time.” My father had been ill, and in and out of the hospital, and my stepmother quoted it one day when we were all gathered together talking… it’s about realizing that it’s a marathon,…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/they-8217-re-back675746b6ff6334d1e2b99d54Fri, 11 Feb 2022 00:25:09 GMTMelissa WashburnI love watching other artist’s process videos showing sketch to final. I’m trying to do more of my own, though I struggle a little with good lighting and quality video. Just because some folks make it look easy doesn’t mean it is! In any case, I finished this Valentines Day greeting card earlier this week,…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/start-to-finish675746bcf1ecc7a61a42bde7Fri, 28 Jan 2022 15:22:03 GMTMelissa WashburnI subtitled this newsletter “Time to Rest and Reflect.” While I see a lot of energy and good intentions and goal setting each year-end, for me it’s a time to rest up, recharge, and start off slow and steady. I have a number of client projects underway already, but chose to share some 2021 highlights…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/january-2021-newsletter675746c1ff6334d1e2b99d79Tue, 04 Jan 2022 14:42:15 GMTMelissa WashburnI was recently invited to submit a reading list to the new website Shepherd.com – a site that aims to connect authors and readers through personally curated “Best Of” lists. Rather than go with art technique or inspiration, I decided to share my favorite recent reads on natural history topics. Nature is endlessly fascinating, and…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/my-favorite-books-about-natural-history675746c6f1ecc7a61a42be06Thu, 30 Dec 2021 17:36:41 GMTMelissa WashburnA Few years ago, the City of Valparaiso approached me about designing some art for a downtown utility box, one of several they were adding art to. This year they gave the boxes a refresh, asking each of us to submit a new design. I stuck with the theme of prairie flora and fauna, and…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/new-public-art-project675746c740c39754f4784f72Wed, 08 Dec 2021 15:45:59 GMTMelissa WashburnI’ve just found a couple of new production partners, and am now offering 100% recycled notepads and 500-piece jigsaw puzzles in my Etsy shop! You can find notepads HERE and puzzles HERE.

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/new-products-in-my-etsy-shop675746c740c39754f4784f75Mon, 01 Nov 2021 16:53:51 GMTMelissa WashburnTLDR? skip straight to the resource list HERE In December 2019, an Instagram post by illustration Studio Ferntree Lane raised the issue of nature-based artists offering vinyl stickers. While it’s a huge market, it’s contributing to the proliferation of microplastics choking our water and affecting wildlife worldwide. It really resonated with me, as someone who tries to think…

]]>https://www.melissawashburn.com/post/eco-friendly-resources-for-artists675746c8ff6334d1e2b99d99Tue, 19 Oct 2021 04:28:03 GMTMelissa Washburn