ILLUSTRATIONS BY MELISSA ROHR GINDLING

Melissa enjoys creating cute sea critter and animal illustrations in watercolor, pen, colored pencil, and acrylic. Past illustrated book releases include The Sleep Catcher by Za Goodbrake, Little Bird, Little Bird by Loni Hoots, Duskie the Owl by Matthew Gindling, and an extensive line of coloring books.
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Melissa grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and received a BFA in illustration from Columbia College Chicago (IL). Melissa is currently located in Fort Myers, Florida, where she runs The Island Octopus online shop with her husband Matt, attends local art fairs and events, and enjoys some freelance illustration projects.

MELISSA'S SPECIALTIES AND SERVICES:
 • Custom animal illustrations
 • Pet portraits
 • Book illustrations, especially for story books, comics, short stories, and poetry
 • Invitation design
​ • Custom coloring pages for promotion and parties
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For additional details, quotes, or to talk about a project idea, please contact Melissa at Melissa (at) IslandOctopus.com. ​
MELISSA'S WORK CAN BE FOUND IN THE FOLLOWING SHOPS AND GALLERIES:
ARTIST STATEMENT:
I'm Melissa, an illustrator with an affinity for octopuses. I enjoy watercolor, ink, and making books.
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Illustration is a form of stopping time, and immortalizing the animals, people, objects and events I enjoy for the simple pleasure of enjoying the fact that they exist. By describing it on paper or canvas shows it respect and adds to the value I already hold for it.

Although some of my work is realistic, I am not simply depicting objects in photorealism. Instead, the subjects in my art are generally things that I can connect to on an emotional level, and my work brings on an emotional respect connected to the subject. My whimsical illustrations are inspired by nature and animals, silly experiences, dreams and doodles.

Working with my hands has always interested me, and I have a variety of interests in the arts including illustration, fine art, book design, wood-burning, graphic design, and photography. I therefore enjoy experimenting with a lot of different materials, although I tend to come back to watercolor & ink.

While my illustrations are focused on the emotional connection I hold with the subject, I also tend to work towards a smaller format, including the book form. When the viewer holds the art in their own hands it becomes more intimate, and therefore produces a higher emotional connection between the subject and viewer.

PUBLICATIONS AS ILLUSTRATOR:
Animals of Sanibel Coloring Book (2022)
The Land of Tulips and Daisies by Loni Hoots (2021)
A Little Bird Holiday by Loni Hoots (2020)
Duskie the Owl by Matthew Gindling (2020)
Nature Spirit Coloring Book (2020)
​Little Bird's First Day by Loni Hoots (2019)
Halloween Coloring Book (2019)
The Pineapple Pirates (2019)
​Puppy & Dog Coloring Book (2019)
Jungle & Rainforest Coloring Book (2018)
Little Bird Meets Anne Marie by Loni Hoots (2018)
​A Mermaid's World Coloring Book (2018)
The Amethyst Ant (2018)
The Evil Weevil (2018)
Little Bird, Little Bird by Loni Hoots (2018)
The Sleep Catcher by Za Goodbrake (2018)
Unicorn & Pony Coloring Book (2017)
A Swim in the River (2015)
Aquatic Coloring Book (2014)
Woodland Coloring Book (2014)
Robot Coloring Book (2013)
Octopus Coloring Book (2013)
Crazy Creatures Coloring Book (2012)
The Snail & the Kite (2012)
The Roadside Crescendo (2012)
The Terrified Pterodactyl (2011)
A Chipmunk's Worst Day Ever (2011)

SELECT SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS:
2024
Sanibel Community House Arts & Craft Show, Sanibel, FL
First Friday Art Walk, Fort Myers, FL 
2023
First Friday Art Walk, Fort Myers, FL
Crafts on the River, Fort Myers, FL
Tampa Bay Chocolate Festival, Port Richey, FL
2022
First Friday Art Walk, Fort Myers, FL
Edison Ford Holiday Market, Fort Myers, FL
Sanibel Community House Art & Crafts Show, Sanibel, FL
2021
Mauhaus Cat Art Show, St. Louis, MO
2019
Strange Folk Festival, St. Louis, MO
River Des Press Expo, St. Louis, MO
Sunset Hills Makers Market, Sunset Hills, MO
The Big Glamp, St. Louis, MO
​4 Hands Brewery Holiday Bazaar, St. Louis, MO
2018
A Happy Little Holiday Market, Webster Groves, MO
St. Louis Small Press Expo, St. Louis, MO
​Strange Folk Festival, St. Louis, MO
River Des Press Expo, St. Louis, MO
Beastly Beauties, Soulard Art Market, St. Louis, MO
4 Hands Brewery Holiday Bazaar, St. Louis, MO
2017
Strange Folk Festival, St. Louis, MO
Holiday Show, SOHA Studio & Gallery, St. Louis, MO
4 Hands Brewery Holiday Bazaar, St. Louis, MO
2016
E'ville Indie, Edwardsville, IL
​Let Them Eat Art, Maplewood, MO
2015
Holiday Show, SOHA Studio & Gallery, St. Louis, MO
Strange Folk Festival, St. Louis, MO
Joy, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO
2014
Holiday Show, SOHA Studio & Gallery, St. Louis, MO
Strange Folk Festival, O’Fallon, IL
Custom pet portrait sketches, Neiman Marcus event, St. Louis, MO
Shades of Green, Soulard Art Market, St. Louis, MO
33 January, Old Orchard Gallery, Webster Groves, MO
2013
Rag Dolls, Robots & Rocketships, Foundry Art Centre, St. Charles, MO
Solo Illustration Show, Black Bear Bakery, St. Louis, MO
Strange Folk Festival, O’Fallon, IL
2012
Strange Folk Festival, O’Fallon, IL
Manifest Urban Arts Festival, Columbia College, Chicago, IL