Illustrator, letterer, and magazine-maker Mélanie Johnsson creates colourful work with an eco-friendly conscience.
We’ve joined up with Mélanie once again to create a rainbow-inspired print for our latest Rainbow of Hope artwork series. Scroll down to discover her bold new artwork, available for purchase now - with 100% of the profits going to NHS Charities Together.
While the output of French illustrator Mélanie Johnsson is sensationally varied, all her design projects are united by a strong ethos: “Protect our planet, nurture your mental health, spread as much joy as you can,” the artist affirms. Her resulting quirky, crisp and utterly uplifting style has birthed female-centric illustrations for ‘Our Planet Week’, plastic pollution designs for Lonely Whale, and all manner of hand lettering creations - often emblazoned with mental health messages. And Johnsson’s practice doesn’t end at art alone, even under lockdown, Mélanie is hosting Instagram Live workshops on plastic-free periods, all from her seaside home in Margate. For work which is so refined, fun, and full of gentle flow, Johnsson’s output is dazzlingly prolific. Here at Evermade, we fall in love with each bountiful new release.
If you happen to be looking for a creative, but calming distraction this lockdown, Johnsson has just released a colourful, and sustainably printed new magazine titled Spellbound. Featuring photography, interviews, eco-issues, and Mélanie’s design dexterity, Spellbound is a true testament to the artist’s interdisciplinary vision. Forever drawing from the spirit of her seaside lifestyle, Mélanie Johnsson is creating work made to give back to the Earth and its inhabitants, while never stealing from it.
Who was on your playlist whilst working on this project?
Surfaces all day long! I recently discovered this band and I'm in love with their sunny, happy, joyful tunes. It always puts me in a great mood.
Who are some artists you really admire at the moment?
I really love the work of Teresa Freitas (the colours and the light!). I recently discovered Haley Tippmann's illustrations which are amazing and also Diane Villadsen's photographs.
What are the positives you have come across during lockdown? How do you think it will change your point of view in the future?
The main positive to me is the fact that the Planet is getting to regenerate while we're on lockdown. Less pollution means less carbon in the atmosphere...and the fauna and flora around us is thriving again. It's wonderful for that. The other positive would be how quickly people are coming together to try and keep everybody's spirit up during those dark times. People have been sticking together without physically seeing each other, and that's pretty amazing to witness.
What are you looking forward to most when the lockdown is over?
Getting in the sea and kite surfing!!!!
What’s your message to health workers right now?
You are our superheroes of the 2020s. You're amazing and we're grateful for you.
After collaborating with Evermade on our very first edition, Decade of Change, Mélanie has created another print for our new Rainbow of Hope project - an art series inspired by the rainbow. When we caught up with the illustrator, she told us: “When I hear the word rainbow, I think about the natural world and how wonderful it is. Eventually, I start thinking about human beings, and the fact that we will never not be in awe of a rainbow.” “It’s a symbol of hope and joy. It says: Everything will be alright in the end.” Mélanie’s final creation features a “woman with a huge, flowy, colourful mane of hair,” in a piece that radiates light, tranquility, and definitely joy.
Mélanie’s original artwork titled Her Name is Joy, is available for purchase now. There are only 100 prints available so be quick! 100% of all profits will be donated to NHS Charities Together.
Mélanie’s artwork titled Her name is Joy, with 100% profits of art print sales going to NHS Charities Together.
