is an award-winning illustrator, art director, and graphic designer, who moved from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Tucson, Arizona to enjoy the Sonoran Desert.
Melissa Lee Johnson
She graduated with a BFA in Integrated Studio Arts from The Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. She got her start illustrating for an alternative newspaper, and has since worked on editorial, children’s books, packaging, branding, animation, and advertising for a variety of clients. In 2020 she received the Communication Arts Illustration Annual Award of Excellence in Advertising. Over the years she has worked for the Shepherd Express, WaterStreet Creative, and Three-Headed Design. Her book “Little People Big Dreams: Queen Elizabeth” was a 2022 best seller in the UK. She is currently the Associate Creative Director for Made By Things, a motion design studio based in Columbus, Ohio.
Fun facts: When she was eleven years old, she decided she wanted to become a “serious artist,” and never changed her mind. When she’s not drawing, she likes to hang with Bambi, Sparkle, and Trixie her three rescue Chihuahuas, as well as her husband (who also works as a creative in advertising). She loves to dance to Talking Heads and thinks everyone should see Stop Making Sense at least once.
Behind the Scenes
Extra! Extra!
The 2023 British Book Awards Shortlist
Communication Arts Illustration Winner
2019’s Best Craft Beer Artwork
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Banzai - Brilliance Publishing by Amazon - Creative Mornings - Hacienda Beer Co. - Macmillan Publishing - Laurence King Publishing - Memra Language Services - Milwaukee County Parks - Milwaukee Film - Milwaukee Magazine - Parents Magazine - Quarto Publishing Group - The General Insurance - Tailored Pet
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The British Book Awards Children’s Illustrated Shortlist 2023 - Communication Arts Illustration Winner 2022 - Communication Arts Illustration Shortlist 2020, 2021, 2022 -Mary L. Nohl Fellowship Finalist 2016
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UofA Professional Practices Talk 2025
MIAD Artist Talk 2024
UofA GIF Workshop for Illustrators 2023-2025 - MIAD Illustration Professional Practices 2020 - MIAD Professional Symposium 2017 - NSP Alumni Series 2017 - Drawn Out 2017 -
Sophie Show - Drawn Out - I'm Still Not Over It - 4 grrls: pt ii - FemFest Art Exhibition - Heads or Tails - 00000 GH00$T $HOW - Juried Senior Exhibition - R.I.P.E. (A Wake) - Swim Team Presents: FOMO - The Outsiders - Creative Fusion - Monster Drawing Rally - Swim Team Presents: The Gold Show
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Cana Magazine - Creative Mornings - Creative Howl - MKE Film - Milwaukee Record - Shepherd Express - Urban Milwaukee - Temporary Art Review - People With Panache
All that and a bag of chips
Animation
Illustration
Art Direction
Storyboarding
Colorscripts
Character Design
Environment Design
Concept Art
GIF Animation
Art Direction
Editorial
Cover Art
Childrens Books
Campaigns
Icons
Packaging
Merchandise
Branding
Extras!
Visual Identity
Logo Design
Lettering
Website Design
Social Media Design
Copywriting
Consulting
Mural Design
Guest Speaking
Portfolio Reviews
Onsite Design
Sometimes I post on Instagram. If you want to keep up with me, @sauceboss_666 is definitely the best place.
