GVN Talking Comics Interview: Artist Adriana Melo For ‘The Art of Adriana Melo,’

As Adriana Melo was growing up in Brazil, she pretty much knew what she wanted to do. Adriana aspired to be an artist. Specifically, a comic artist. She worked tirelessly to improve and was inspired by the artist’s work she saw to one day join their ranks. Eventually, that hard work paid off and she found herself working for the major publishers she had followed through her youth. Working for Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and Top Cow.

However, all of her efforts also meant she had built up a large portfolio of artwork in all different types of medium. With that extensive library. Adriana has compiled a book to showcase her talent with The Art of Adriana Melo, which is coming soon to Zoop. Edited by Erica Schultz, this book celebrates her artwork and the hard work that led to her success in the comic field. In advance of her Zoop campaign, we caught up with Adriana to talk about her artistic beginnings, her collaborations with the other comic talent and her upcoming book. So, let’s welcome artist Adriana Melo to GVN Talking Comics.

Beginnings

GVN: Thanks for sharing just a bit of your time, Adriana. Since this is the first time, we have had the
opportunity to chat, let’s start with your creative background. When did you first take an interest in
comic art and whose work inspired you to pursue that avenue?

Adriana: I’ve been reading comics since I was a little kid, so working in comics had always been my first answer whenever someone asked me, “What do you want to do when you grow up?” I used to spend hours drawing, painting with my colored pencils, and creating my own stories.

At first, all my comics featured cutesy, childlike characters, until I hit my teens and started reading superhero books. I fell in love and became 100% immersed in reading and drawing every comic book page I could get my hands on. X-Men were my favorites (Nightcrawler is my all-time fave), and at the time, Alan Davis and his Excalibur run inspired me to become a comic book artist. I remember drawing Meggan, Rachel Scott, and Nightcrawler in my sketchbook, marveling at how Davis made everyone not just beautiful, but their expressions were so alive! He’s still my number one inspiration in comics.

Working with the Big Two

GVN: Throughout your career, you have worked for several top companies, including Marvel, DC, Dark
Horse, and Top Cow. That is quite an impressive resume. As you initially developed your talent, did
you have any doubts about your ability to eventually earn the opportunity to work with “The Big
Two”? Or were your ambitions not as high at that time?

Adriana: I always knew exactly what I wanted to do for a living, but I can’t say that ever was I felt comfortable about my skills and abilities, quite the contrary. I knew that to evolve and get better, the only thing I could do would be keep practicing and studying at home, to get better at storytelling and anatomy. I dreamt about working for them, of course, but first of all, in my head I thought about I want to draw as a professional, no matter the publisher. SO yeah, when I got my first gig at Marvel, it felt like a dream, to be honest.

Ron Marz

GVN: You have collaborated on several projects with the very talented Ron Marz. How did that
partnership come about and what do you feel you have learned from Ron?

Adriana: I have very fond memories of that time in my life. We worked together for the first time on a Witchblade run, and then at Dark Horse, we teamed up again on a book called Star Wars: Empire. Even before I started drawing or even thinking about comics, as a kid I was obsessed with the original Star Wars movies. I remember how happy I’d get whenever I found out one of the films was going to air on TV. So, imagine how wonderful it was, as a grown woman, to finally get to draw Han Solo, Leia, Luke, and Chewie for the first time on my Star Wars run with Ron Marz.

It was also when I realized how much fun I had working with likenesses (when your drawings have to resemble an actor)! Working with Ron was my first experience collaborating closely with a writer, and I remember him asking me what kind of scenes I’d like to draw, and which characters were my favorites, so he could add them to the script. That’s the secret to a great book: the artist and writer working closely together to create something awesome. 🙂

The Art of Adriana Melo and Zoop

GVN: I could discuss your career and the various titles you’ve worked on, particularly “WitchBlade” at
length, but I’m very excited to hear about your upcoming project with the team at Zoop—a book
titled “The Art of Adriana Melo” that features your artwork. How did this project come about, and
will this be your first experience with crowdfunding? If so, what led you to choose Zoop as the
perfect platform for your book

Adriana: Aside from working on comic books, I’ve always enjoyed drawing and painting fan art of characters from movies and books I love. I also have a collection of commissions I’ve done for fans and warm-ups I created just for myself. One day, I realized I had a ton of artwork scattered around my studio, and some of it no one had seen yet. That’s when I first thought about organizing it all into a book.

And yep, this is my very first experience with crowdfunding. I’d seen my friends in Brazil and the U.S. crowdfunding their projects, and I’d even helped pack and ship some of their books. So, when I learned that Zoop could help with that part, I jumped right in! Especially living on the third floor of a walk-up building, the idea of not having to worry about boxes and shipping is just wonderful.

Editor Erica Schultz

GVN: You are partnered with Erica Schultz in an editorial role for the creation of your book. Have you
worked with Erica previously and how did you decide which of your impressive catalog of work to
include?

Adriana: Oh yeah, Erica and I have been friends for a while, ever since my first time at a comic convention in North America, when we were side by side in the Artist Alley. I drew the covers for her OP miniseries Deadly Bouquet, and we’ve been talking about working together again. We have a lot of plans, we just need to make them happen 😉 As for the content in the book… the first time I added everything I wanted (paintings, fanart, commissions), I think the book was over 200 pages, so I had to keep trimming here and there until we got to the right amount of artwork.

GVN: After your Zoop Campaign launches, what else will your fans find on the site besides your
amazing art book?

Adriana: Aside from my art book there are also a bunch of other creators on the site. Stephane Roux has his Cocktails and Curves art book on the site (definitely want to get a copy of) as well as Reilly Brown has his father and son comic “Thunder Guardian”. And I’m also looking forward to Richard Pace’s Coven book!

Upcoming Projects

GVN: Thank you once again, Adriana, for taking the time to be with us. Before we wrap up, I would
like to give you the opportunity to share with our readers one last time about “The Art of Adriana
Melo” and any other projects you’d like to promote.

Adriana: Thanks for the opportunity to talk about my book and how it came to be. Right now, I’m working on a one-shot with Dark Horse, which I’m having a lot of fun with. After that, I’ve been talking with some writer friends, and I might work on something more personal and author-driven later this year. I have tons of ideas, hehe, and I’m lucky to have so many incredibly talented writers as friends. I think we’ve got more stories to tell together. 🙂