Portfolio

Scientific Illustrations & Artwork

Bird Illustrations

Woodpeckers & Oaks

Paicines Ranch

Mel created a 30" x 24" acrylic painting on a wood panel, titled “Nuttall's Woodpecker Family in a Blue Oak Snag,” which can be viewed in person at The Overlook. Additionally, the QR code below the painting leads you to multimedia content, including a video of Mel explaining some of the ecological relationships between Nuttall’s Woodpeckers and Blue Oaks. They also describe their process for creating this painting, which was inspired by an actual Blue Oak snag whose story they witnessed over many years while conducting rangeland ecological monitoring at the ranch.

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On the Wings of the LCR

Collaboration with Chasing Chickadees

An interactive website that tells the story of bird conservation on the Lower Colorado River. Mel drew the landscape and Alicia drew the birds. Mel’s first and only entirely digital illustration

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Swith’s Journey

Personal Project

An art book that tells the story of the first year in the life of a bird, using text and both graphite and watercolor illustrations. This project is a slow work in progress, release date TBD.

Rangeland Soil Guide

Point Blue Conservation Science

Life Belowground on the Range is an illustrated booklet that gives an overview of soil health and ecosystems of California’s rangelands. It covers topics such as carbon and nitrogen cycling as well as nematodes, earthworms, fungi and other life belowground. Produced in partnership with Point Blue Conservation Science and TomKat Ranch.

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Pasture Plants Guide

Point Blue Conservation Science

Guide to the Pasture Plants of Coastal San Mateo County is an illustrated booklet that introduces the common plant functional groups for coastal grasslands, with ecological and stewardship context. Produced in partnership with Point Blue Conservation Science, TomKat Ranch, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), and San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD).

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Sanctuary

Personal Project

An art book that explores personal landscapes, imagery, and visions in large format illustrations (16” x 16”) accompanied by handwritten words. Incorporates several kinds of ink and watercolor media.