ST-ALPHONSE-DE-GRANBY | DECEMBER 2021

Melissa Wilcox, aka Miss Wilcox, started in the fashion industry as an illustrator. Her taste for exploration has led her to work on different projects and experience many mediums, from painting, graphic design, digital art, and embroidery.

This Estrie resident has had a passion for art since childhood. Therefore, it was natural for her to take a plastic arts program at CEGEP. After a brief stint in interior design, it was finally in graphic design that she decided to continue her studies.

In the labor market, it is in the fashion industry that she has found her place. « I was the official graphic designer for the Kärv company. In particular, I created the designs for prints and embroidery. Now, I’ve been self-employed for a little over twelve years. I continued to have contracts for Kärv, but also for other companies as a freelance. »

With three children and living outside Montreal, the artist found the balance easier by working independently. Among her recent projects, she has notably collaborated to create children’s books published by Éditions Hors-Ligne. On a completely different note, she illustrated the cover of a recently released female masturbation book. She also created images for Microbrasserie Perspective, owned by her brother. In addition, she collaborates with Oraki, a clothing company made from recycled materials.

Digital art and embroidery

Having experienced and worked with many mediums, including drawing and painting, it is now with digital art, and embroidery’s that Miss Wilcox harnesses her artistic passion. » Two years ago, I bought myself an iPad. Digital art has a lot of advantages. First of all, it’s not messy! The possibilities are also so vast. You can do pretty much anything you want. I explored different techniques and looked at the ways of other artists to translate them in my way. For embroidery, I love that, especially the mixture of different techniques with this type of craft. It’s something that I would eventually like to take further. »

She favors portraits of animals or women and warmer colors rather than cold ones. « I’ve always focused more on female subjects. Maybe it’s from my childhood when I was little, I took pictures from magazines and reproduced them. Usually, they were quite a few more women than men. »

The artist works mainly from photos. She draws inspiration from what she discovers on the Pinterest app. « My goal is not to copy or create a faithful reproduction of it, but to bring out the emotion and what I feel when I see the image. If I manage to convey the same feeling to others, I tell myself that I will have reached my goal ! »

Finally, as an artist of her time, it is through her Website and social networks (Instagram, Facebook) that Melissa Wilcox invites people to discover her creations.