Author + Illustrator + Artist SCBWI | CBIG | 12x12 PBParty 2024 Illustration Showcase HM https://melissamurray.net #kidlitart #kidlithttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3mk2iau2lis2kLove this ocean-based world map! A different point of view to look at our planet from for Earth Day tomorrow. [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Apr 2026 02:47 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk2iau2lis2khttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3mifme7wtf22bHappy to see my entry to #50PreciousWords got an honorable mention in the Family category! Thank to @viviankirkfield.bsky.social for hosting this contest every year! It’s always a great way to practice my brevity when telling a story.01 Apr 2026 02:09 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3mifme7wtf22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3mifkb6aab22bI had to think about this one, but does procrastination count as a warm-up ritual? I feel like I get my best writing (at least for 1st drafts) done in the middle of the night after avoiding sitting down to focus on it during the day. 🌙🦉 #kidlitchat [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 Apr 2026 01:32 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3mifkb6aab22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3mhdrahfp2k2oI haven’t been very good at keeping up with social media lately, but I have been busy working on #kidlit and #kidlitart. This month I applied to #pbparty #pbrisingstars and #50preciouswords. They’re all great challenges to work on polishing storytelling skills. Good luck to all the entrants!18 Mar 2026 15:06 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhdrahfp2k2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3lxkrn3xbos22Some sketchbooking. A mix of kidlit characters, a photo study, and some still life objects. #sketchbook #watercolor #mixedmedia #nature #kidlitart #portraitpainting29 Aug 2025 19:19 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxkrn3xbos22https://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3lussthwgfk2sStarting a new sketchbook today. It’s always tough to decide what to draw on that first page—I went with a quick graphite still life of a few objects I picked up on a recent walk. #sketchbook #nature #still-life #drawing #graphite #seeds #sketching25 Jul 2025 19:46 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3lussthwgfk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3lu2div4twc24I think the GN This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews would make an amazing movie. I don’t really cast my own books, but I think of them cinematically while writing. I could see a GN I’m writing as a movie—but it’d probably need to be animated—the main characters are birds and dinosaurs. 😂 #kidlitchat [contains quote post or other embedded content]16 Jul 2025 02:08 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3lu2div4twc24https://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3lqvowumfmc2jHappy #kidlitartpostcard day! Here’s a video compilation @patriciakeeler.bsky.social put together of the annual @cbignyc.bsky.social illustrator directory. You can take a closer look and/or download on the cbig website: www.cbig-nyc.com/directory.06 Jun 2025 01:34 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqvowumfmc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3lnt3yicrrc22Scanned in some of my favorites from one of my recent watercolor sketchbooks. #sketchbook #watercolor #gouache #kidlitart #botanicalart27 Apr 2025 20:34 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnt3yicrrc22https://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3lmdx3nqpcs23Hi #PortfolioDay! I’m Melissa, a children’s author/illustrator currently seeking representation. I also make nature-inspired and abstract paintings and am interested in art licensing. #kidlitart #kidlit #illustration #wallart09 Apr 2025 02:31 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmdx3nqpcs23https://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3llzafrhv3s2kA springtime-inspired abstracted watercolor painting. #spring #dragonfly #painting #abstract #art #watercolor #wallart #botanical #green04 Apr 2025 20:18 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3llzafrhv3s2khttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3llant574rs2lA funny PB I read recently is STRANDED: A Mostly True Story from Iceland (Aevar Por Benediktsson/Anne Wilson). It merges science with folklore to to exaggerate and play into the goofiness of the MC. Techniques I love to use along with unexpected page turns & using the art as a punchline. #kidlitchat [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Mar 2025 01:42 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3llant574rs2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3lkxsh6w6uk2jApplied yesterday! Love that opportunities like this push me to polish my work and evaluate my process, strengths, weaknesses and goals. Good luck to all the applicants! #pbrisingstars #kidlit22 Mar 2025 13:11 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkxsh6w6uk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3lj76tn464k2vEnjoying working on some picture book illustrations with traditional media. This is watercolor and colored pencil plus a little graphite pencil. Still experimenting with it, so I may add some gouache and colored inks still. #kidlitart #kidlit #illustration28 Feb 2025 00:50 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3lj76tn464k2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3liiplox4qs2sMost of my ideas need to marinate for a while. I write a bit here and there—eventually I have a sense of the characters, plot, setting, themes, etc. Once I reach that point, I have to write a solid outline to actually finish writing it. I rarely write the scenes in order though. #kidlitchat [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 Feb 2025 02:19 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3liiplox4qs2shttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3lh2o4h7wt22dLittle watercolor cardinal based on one of my photos. #painting #watercolor #sketchbook #watercolorpainting #birds #birdart #watercolorbirds #cardinal31 Jan 2025 18:50 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3lh2o4h7wt22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3lfqpgvlpzc27Most helpful is probably my critique group, we meet monthly via zoom and it's great to have that deadline and accountability to keep motivated to revise and make new work to share. We also keep each other up to date on kidlit opportunities and books we've read. #kidlitchat [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Jan 2025 02:22 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfqpgvlpzc27https://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3lexbtkr4dk22A little work-in-progress trying to use more traditional media for my illustrations this year. #kidlitart #kidlit #dodo #WIP #watercolor04 Jan 2025 23:42 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3lexbtkr4dk22https://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3ld37qnyps22bI love how this whole book is a perfect interactive experience. Grover’s dramatic poses are intricately tied to all the expressive hand lettering as he begs you to stop reading. But the reader (& Grover) can’t help but defy his plea’s to stop reading before you get to the monster at the end. #pbchat [contains quote post or other embedded content]12 Dec 2024 02:25 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3ld37qnyps22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/melissamurray.bsky.social/post/3lcyp3f6tbk23I was thinking a bigger, more comfortable workspace (my current corner is pretty cramped) especially for the illustration side of things...but all these writing retreat ideas look pretty fun. #kidlitchat [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Dec 2024 02:21 +0000at://did:plc:d6obyvaka4uu7gvbdszaszng/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcyp3f6tbk23