Five Questions with Mel Armstrong

What is your illustrating day like? When and how do you create? 

It really depends on what’s on my desk! For example, I’m currently illustrating a book for CSIRO Publishing in Australia, which is taking up a lot of my creative energy. In reality, I’m a bit of a "calendar blocker." I map out my week to cover every corner of my business - from children’s books and surface pattern design to admin, marketing, and running my online course and community. They all require a substantial amount of time, so staying organised ensures I don’t miss a beat.

When it’s time to actually illustrate, I have a little ritual. I put on a podcast, an audiobook, or some music to "get in the zone." Once the audio starts, the rest of the world fades away, and I can just focus on the drawing!

Where do your best ideas come from? How does surface pattern-creating evolve to children’s picture books and vice versa? 

My ideas usually sprout from everyday life. So a walk in nature or the hilarious stories my kids tell me. Just the other day, I was watching a David Attenborough documentary and was captivated by two creatures I’d never heard of: a sea bunny and a mudskipper. By the next morning, I was already sketching them, and I’m hoping to turn them into a pattern design soon.

There is a lot of "cross-pollination" between my patterns and my books. I love using my patterns for a character’s clothing, wallpaper, or home furnishings within a story, and I always try to create a custom pattern for the endpapers. On the flip side, my personal illustration projects often find a second life as fabric designs. Companies in the quilting market love fabrics that tell a story, so it’s a wonderful way to bring a narrative touch to textile design.

What is the work you are most proud of so far? Why?  

I’ll always have a soft spot for my first book, ‘A Home for Luna’, written by Stef Gemmill. Since it was my first time illustrating a full book, I was definitely feeling those "newbie" nerves! However, I think the final result is beautiful and the story has such a lovely meaningful heart. Seeing it go on to win a Rubery Award in the Children’s category in 2020 was the ultimate "pinch-me" moment for Stef and me.

What is something you dream of achieving with your work? 

One of the biggest thrills I get these days is watching my students achieve their own goals. Teaching really "fills my bucket." It feels incredible to help others navigate this path and see their art out in the world. My dream is to continue fostering that community so that more artists can experience the joy of seeing their work enjoyed by others. There’s enough room in the industry for everyone’s unique voice!




What is one thing you would say to aspiring children’s illustrators?  

Technical skills, like knowing how to draw a hand or shade a sphere, are the foundation, but your unique way of seeing the world is why a publisher will hire you specifically.

Don't just scroll through Instagram for inspiration. Instead, look at the real world: the way a toddler struggles with a zipper, how a cat stretches in a sunbeam, or the weird bruised colour of the sky right before a storm. These "stolen" moments from real life make your work feel authentic. 

Also, try to let go of perfectionism. Some of the most beloved characters in literature are technically "imperfect," but they have an emotional resonance that a hyper-realistic drawing might lack. 

Finally, always remember, draw for the child, not the portfolio!


Web: https://www.melarmstrong.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelArmstrong
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melarmstrongdesign/


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