About
My father said there were two kinds of people: vertical and horizontal. I, however, am a diagonal.
My sister said I was a "skew.ā Not even on the same plane.
St. Louis-based illustrator Melissa Whitaker creates narrative and editorial imagery. Through portraiture, line, color, and texture, she explores the space between idea and emotion, aiming for clarity without losing ambiguity. She is drawn to work that pairs wit with something more direct, or offers a slightly off-angle way of seeing.
She creates concept-driven work for books, magazines, and brands that value storytelling, with recognition from 3x3 Magazine, Creative Quarterly, and Communication Arts. Available for commissions and collaborations.
Outside the studio, she has a habit of looking where she probably shouldnātāand calling it research.
Still looking. Still drawing.