Wednesday, April 7, 2010

GDG Artist Spotlight: Melody Severns



This week, we talk to GDG's Melody Severns, head of GDG and one of our original co-founders!  Melody was featured in Volume I, A Girl in Time, for Girls from the 1980s, Volume II, Once Upon a Girl for "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," Miss March in our 2010 Photo Pin-Up calendar, and September in our 2010 Art Pin-Up Calendar! 


1. What's your name?
Melody Severns

2. Where are you originally from, and where do you live now?
I was born in Anaheim, California and lived in Orange County until I graduated college. I now live in the Los Angeles area and love it there. I've been a SoCal girl all my life.

3. What do you do for a living when you're not drawing sexy pinups?
I am an animator outside of GirlsDrawinGirls. I've interned on "King of the Hill" and "Stan Lee Presents", worked as a character animator on "The Simpsons" and "The Simpsons Movie" and am currently doing freelance character design.

4. What's your favorite medium to work in? 
Unfortunately for me, I love working in traditional mediums. It's unfortunate because I know that's not where the animation industry is headed, but I'm always open to learn new things with where the industry is headed. I guess it's just the kid in me who loved finger painting. Working traditionally drawing or painting is just so "hands on". I want the mess of having charcoal and paint all over my hands. I love that!.

5. Why do you think the pinup girl has such a timeless, wide appeal? 
Sexy never goes out of style. It's depression proof, recession proof, it's always in demand. The pin up girl represents the fun and flirty aspects of being a woman, which any gender can be drawn to.

6. Define what "sexy" means to you.
To me "sexy" means confidence. I don't care if you have cellulite, a skin condition, a few extra pounds, whatever. If you have confidence, that's the biggest turn on in the world. A woman who is proud of herself and who loves herself can be the biggest turn on. Confidence is beautiful.

7. What's your biggest goal/ambition as an artist? 
Right now I would love to take GirlsDrawinGirls to new and amazing places. When I started this group with Anne Walker back in 2006, we had goals and aspirations for it, but we NEVER imagined where it could go. I want to keep motivating and encouraging women artists to take the art world by storm and continue to help this group grow by leaps and bounds.

8. Why do you like drawing ladies?
Well, the simplest answer is because I am a lady. Drawing ladies is almost a window to my soul. It can symbolize who I want to be and what I admire (or despise) in other women. It can be great therapy! Not to mention, women are just more fun to draw!

9. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? 
Travel is one of my ultimate passions in life. I want to go EVERYWHERE! My next big trip that I want to take would be to Japan. It'll happen at some point!

10. Name three artists who have influenced you and/or you admire. 
I will always admire and respect Mary Blair for being such a pioneer for women in animation, that goes without saying. I also have to thank J. Scott Campbell for being a personal inspiration of mine for his incredible talent for drawing sexy women. I also have to thank him for writing the forward for GirlsDrawinGirls Vol.2, he's just an all around cool guy. I have also always loved 60's mod style and have been a fan of Shag for a long time.

Lastly, I want to thank my grandfather who was an animator for Disney back in the day of "Bambi" and "Cinderella" for sparking the torch in me to be completely mesmerized by this art form. He died before I was born, but he has always been a source of inspiration for me, even when times in the industry get tough. I would have really wanted to know him, but I hope that he would have been proud of me.

********

Thanks Melody!

And don't forget to check out her drawing blog at

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

hotness!