Melissa Launay

My Mama Earth

2012-02-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

I am very please to introduce my first illustrated Children's Book " My Mama Earth" published by Barefoot Books and written by Susan B. Katz.
It will be launched at the Bologna Book Fair this coming March, for more details click HERE and in all the books shops by the 1st of April 2012!!
If you are interested in owning your own copy, you can pre order HERE.

Hope you enjoy it!

My Mama Earth illustration process

2012-02-01T08:22:00.000-08:00

My Mama Earth
Published by Barefoot Books. Written by Susan B. Katz and illustrated by me!
In book shops 1st of April 2012

I would like to share with you some sketches, developed images and final illustrations that made this book possible.

Here are some original roughs and ideas that I came up to illustrate the words of Susan Katz manuscript and that Barefoot liked me to develop into finished illustrations.

A little sailor told me....

2012-01-26T13:07:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

I would like to share with you all A LITTLE SAILOR TOLD ME.... a BLOG full of anecdotes of my father, Drew Launay, who, until now, has told me little of what he was up to during the fifty years before I was born. Author, playwright, humourist and broadcaster, he writes under his real name, André Launay, but also Drew Launay, Andrew Laurance and Drew Lamark.

To view please click HERE

Hope you all enjoy it!

February 2012 Exhibition!

2012-01-22T09:11:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Please join us at THE FRAMERS GALLERY for our upcoming Show!

I will be exhibiting some of my work together with very talented artists:

Belinda Syme, Rosalind Richards, Hannah Battershell and Rebecca Merry.

17th - 24th February 2012

Hope to see you all there!!

Best,

Melissa

Kids Company room at Holmleigh Primary School

2012-01-20T05:15:00.000-08:00

Mural at Holmleigh Primary School, North London.
This is the last mural I have done for kids company last weekend.
Just yesterday I had a meeting with another school that I will be painting during half term when the kids are not around and I'll get 2 whole days!
I usually have to paint all these murals in record time as the rooms are being used all the time, this one up here I did in 1/2 day, sorry the photographs aren't that good, only had my iphone and completely forgot to take my camera with me!
Hope you enjoy!

Kids Company office mural

2012-01-20T03:45:00.000-08:00

This is another mural that I completed for one of the offices at Kids company head office in November 2011.
The whole building is covered with beautiful murals.
Kids Company

Kids Company, therapy room

2012-01-17T04:52:00.000-08:00

BLOOSOM ROOM
I did this mural in October 2011.
It was painted for Kids company, for one of their many therapy rooms.

Kids company "GREEN ROOM"

2012-01-16T06:37:00.000-08:00

Last September I had a very special call from Camila Batmanghelidjh (she is the founder and director of Kids Company, a wonderful charity that works therapeutically with vulnerable children and young people) it was a lovely surprise as she asked me to join her arts team and paint some murals for her New Kids company center in Pekham, London.

I have since then done a few murals for the Charity.
The rooms are used as therapy rooms, play rooms with all sorts of educational, artistic workshops.

THE GREEN ROOM or "sheep room"
Kids Company
1 Kenbury Street
London SE5 9BS

DECEMBER COMMISSIONS

2012-01-11T03:23:00.000-08:00

Last December I finalized two commissions!

IN THE WOODS is a commission I did for my accountant, Nick. He is a lovely gentle man and has been doing my accounts for the last 3 years. He suggested a commissioned painting for his collection in exchange of his services this year, I obviously was very happy to trade and this is the result!

IN THE WOODS
Gouache on Fabriano Artistico 640 gsm HP Paper
30 x 30 cm ( 50 x 50 cm framed) 2011

This second commission was for Theresa, my gorgeous friends Steph and Nat's mum.

She came to my solo show last June at the Coningsby gallery and bought WHERE THE LITTLE CREATURES LIVE, one of my favorite 2009 paintings.

She wanted a second painting of mines to complement and enhance the first one so they could share the hanging space in her house, but none of the ones exhibiting at the show gathered all the little forest creatures she was looking for, so we agreed that the best thing would be for her to commission me a painting.

ALL IS CALM WHERE THEY LIVE is the result, where owls, foxes and little creatures of the forest live a very peaceful calm life.

ALL IS CALM WHERE THEY LIVE
Gouache on fabriano Artistico 640 gsm Paper
30 x 30 cm (50 x 50 cm framed)
December 2011

TRAPPED AT HOME

2012-01-10T06:44:00.000-08:00

I recently sold this very special painting!

Thank you Axel and Anuschka for purchasing it for your lovely home!

TRAPPED AT HOME

Gouache on Fabriano Artistico 640 gsm Paper.

70 x 50 cm ( 90 x 70 cm framed lime oak)

I've always found the tales of Alice in Wonderland fascinating, this painting was inspired by one of them in particular where she drinks a potion that makes her grow so much she can't fit in a house.

Trapped at home is, I guess is a little bit autobiographical, I spend quite a large amount of time on my own at home working and painting. The church and the buildings represented in the painting are inspired by the view from my studio.
I don't have cats, owls or talking insects to whisper in my ears but I do have plenty of tea!

HIDE & SEEK

2012-01-09T09:14:00.000-08:00

Last November I sold HIDE & SEEK, a painting I did in 2009 that I absolutely love for it's intricacy and enchantment.
Inspired by a little poem I wrote and by the colours and feel of one of my favorite children's books: "My Very Own Sister" Illustrated by Hans Arnold and published by Methuen Children's Books.

Thank you Mark for purchasing "Hide & Seek" for your lovely home!

HIDE & SEEK
Unspoken rules we know so well
we play, we flirt for months
we don't talk
just hide and seek
I hide and then
you found me

HIDE & SEEK
Gouache on Fabriano Artistico 640 gsm HP Paper
30 x 30 cm ( 50 x 50 cm framed)
2009

CALLING and CALL ME

2011-11-09T11:21:00.000-08:00

CALLING and CALL ME were purchased yesterday by a very nice gentleman at our Private View, I am very pleased they weren't separated and will be going together to a lovely new home. Thank you J!

I first painted CALL ME last year, my grandmother left me these beautiful oval frames and after restoring them I decided the best I could do was a diptych of a couple with a 1940's look and feel to them.
The frames reminded me of those old small oval necklaces you get where you keep a photograph of your loved one.
After I did CALL ME I had to have a male version where he is CALLING her, he is a missed aviator sent far away.
Now they will not remain apart.
Both paintings are Gouache on fabriano hot press 640 gsm paper. Size is 40 x 30 cm aproximately as they are oval.

This week at THE FRAMERS GALLERY

2011-11-09T10:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Tuesday 8th of November was our private view at THE FRAMERS GALLERY, if you didn't get a chance to see it, the show goes on till the end of the week. Gallery opening hours are 10 to 6 p.m everyday. Show ends on Saturday the 12th November.
Rebecca Merry, Chris Salmon, Mick Davies and I are very grateful for all the lovely people that managed to join us on the night and for those that couldn't make it but where there in spirit!
It was a great Private View and so busy I did not have a chance to take any photos of everyone, in previous shows I have had a friend to take some pictures of the event but sadly this time I wasn't that organized and once people started coming through the door and my glass of wine kept filling up I completely forgot to ask someone or to take a few myself.
But I do have these photos of my side of the show before it all started at 6 and just one of me with friend Kay when everyone had left by 9.30 p.m.
Thank you ALL for all the support!!

THE FRAMERS GALLERY

2011-11-07T03:20:00.000-08:00

Please join us at our Private view tomorrow TUESDAY 8th November at

THE FRAMERS GALLERY from 6 to 9.30 p.m

36 Windmill Street. London W1T 2JT

These images are from the back section of the gallery where my paintings are hanging.

I will be adding more images later this week of the rest of the gallery and with paintings and etchings from my fellow exhibitors: Rebecca Merry, Mick Davies and Chris Salmon.

November Exhibition

2011-10-21T06:07:00.000-07:00

Please join us at our upcoming exhibition this November!
I will be exhibiting with Artists; Mick Davies, Chris Salmon and Rebecca Merry.

Place Art Fair Oct 2011

2011-10-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

Last week I exhibited at the Palace Art Fair. Fulham Palace, Bishop's avenue. London SW6.
It took place during the 7th - 9th Oct 2011.
This is sadly the only photograph I managed to take of The FOURWALLS Gallery stand with some of my work hanging, from top to bottom: "Trapped at home", "Calling" and "Call me".

Miguel's mural

2011-10-12T05:56:00.000-07:00

As promised here are some photos of my friend Miguel Gómez Losada mural at the University of Filosofía y Letras in Córdoba.
I went there for two days in September and was so impressed with this huge stunning mural on glass. The mural , oil paint on glass panels, work as a glass wall to separate the library from the hallway at the university.
If you are visiting Córdoba , I really recommend to visit the university to have a look at this master piece. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras in Plaza del Cardenal Salazar, 3. 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
Please see more of his work HERE.

2011-2009

2011-10-07T07:38:00.000-07:00

March 2009 September 2011

September in the south of Spain!
As some of you know I am from Spain, to be more exact from a little town called Nerja in the province of Malaga. I usually come every three months to visit family and friends and a couple of weeks ago I went to visit the city of Cordoba for the first time after I did " The Gathering" Mural in the centre of the town in March 2009. Calle Angel de Saavedra 9.
While I was there I managed to catch up with some old friends and visited the Facultad de filosofia y Letras where my friend Miguel has just finished an INCREDIBLE mural on glass, I will be adding some photos of these in next post! To view his work please click HERE.

Here are some photos of the BEFORE: March 2009 and NOW: September 2011
Sadly, as you can see, my mural is not there anymore, it was only intended to be up for 3 months as a sessonal project for the Spring and it stayed up for 8 months in total. Now it lies in some warehouse waiting to be sent to Nerja (Malaga) where with luck and some organizing from the coincil it will be hanged again.

El patio de mi casa

2011-10-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

Jazmin flowers overgrowing over the balcony of my room in Spain.

My place of work

2011-09-08T08:50:00.000-07:00

New Promotional A5 cards

2011-09-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

Some new promotional A5 cards printed on 400gsm smooth paper. Back and front are showed together.

Botanical gardens and conservatories

2011-09-02T02:00:00.000-07:00

I would love to paint on these windows!

The Conservatory Shows past- PRESENT

2011-08-23T11:47:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday the 21st we had another of our open studio days at the Conservatory. Unfortunately, though I was holding the camera all day I didn't manage to take a single picture, was too distracted drinking Pimms and hanging outside with all the lovely people that came to see our work (Hannah's and mines), we also had a new addition, our friend Helen with her beautiful handmade greeting cards, notebooks and gifts (she hasn't got a blog at the moment but will soon).
These pictures were taken on monday at 8 a.m before the sun was shinning into the conservatory. Hope you enjoy!

Conservatory exhibitions PAST- present

2011-08-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

The Conservatory shows are held in Stockwell, south London.

Hannah Battershell and I meet a couple of years ago working at Shepherds Bookbinding ( previously known as Falkiners fine papers) and have been good friends ever since, we have similar taste and interests and like doing collaborations and shows together.

These photos here are from our October Show in 2009, my work is visible in the front four glass panels and Hanna's are in the four back side panels and displayed on the wood skirts.

If you are interested in seeing these pieces up close, please visit:
Hannah Battershell's website: www.hannahbattershell.com
And my work at: www.melissalaunay.com, these pieces will be under 2009 paintings

For those that are interested in the white glass paint; the pens are called "uni posca", to be found in London Graphic centre, they are easily removable with water and glass cleaner.

Show February 2010

Unfortunately for some reason I haven't got any photos of the section where Hannah's work was hanging, but if you want to see her work, please visit her website at: www.hannahbattershell.com

Whites and human birds

2011-08-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

"Royal blue kingfisher" and "Blue magpie"

Gouache on fabriano 640 gsm paper. 12 x 12 cm

Natural Blues

2011-08-18T02:18:00.000-07:00

A LITTLE CUP OF TEA, DEAR?
Gouache on fabriano 640 gsm hot press paper. 30 x 30 cm
2011 Available for sale
© Melissa Launay 2011

Tropical botanical gardens

2011-08-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

IN BETWEEN THE LEAVES
Acrylic and gouache on fabriano 640 gsm hot press paper. 30 x 30 cm
2009. Available for sale, for more details please email: info@melissalaunay.com
© Melissa Launay 2011

LITTLE NESTS
Gouache on fabriano 640 gsm hot press paper. 30 x 30 cm
2011 Available for sale
© Melissa Launay 2011

Summer days at Richmond Park

2011-08-16T03:07:00.000-07:00

Butterflies

2011-08-16T03:05:00.000-07:00

Paintings/Poem

2011-06-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

SOFT COTTON NIGHT
Alone and lost walking through the dark night
I found your hand, it was warm, soft
and it felt like a cotton cloud.

NOCHE SUAVE DE ALGODON
Sola, perdida caminando en la noche oscura
encontré tu mano, cálida, suave
como nube de algodón.

SOLO SHOW at The Coningsby gallery

2011-06-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

Some photos of my Solo Exhibition at The Coningsby Gallery.
It's on from the 6 to the 11 of June 2011. Please come and have a look!

Please visit the CONINGSBY gallery on 30 Tottenham Street. London W1T 4RJ
Opening hours 10 a.m to 6 p.m everyday
Saturday from 10 a.m to 8 p.m.

SOLO SHOW at the CONINGSBY Gallery

2011-03-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

I will be exhibiting at The CONINGSBY Gallery
Monday 6th - 11th June 2011
Private View on Tuesday the 7th, 18.00 - 21.00h

CONINGSBY GALLERY
30 Tottenham Street
London W1T 4RJ

Open daily 10 am - 6 pm
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7636 1064

A TENDER TOUCH
Gouache on paper 70 x 50 cm

Paintings at THE AFFORDABLE ART FAIR

2011-03-03T02:42:00.000-08:00

These are some of the paintings that I will be showing at the AFF this March. They will be in stand L2 ENID LAWSON GALLERY

   LITTLE RED MAGPIE Acrylic on wood 40 x 30 cm

   SWEET COTTON Acrylic on wood 50 x 50 cm

   WATER DANDELIONS I Acrylic on wood 60 x 60 cm


   WATER DANDELIONS II Acrylic on wood 60 x 60 cm

Exhibiting at the AFFORDABLE ART FAIR

2011-02-23T10:19:00.000-08:00

I will be exhibiting more paintings this following MARCH at the AAF in London.

My works will be at STAND L2 with the ENID LAWSON GALLERY

Please come and visit

10th to the 13th of March 2011

LITTLE SECRETS gouache on paper 12 x 12 cm

WILD CATS acrylic on wood 50 x 50 cm

IN BETWEEN THE LEAVES Acrylic and gouache on paper 30 x 30 cm

These are only a few of the paintings that will be on show!

THE AFFORDABLE ART FAIR

The Affordable Art Fair is the leading showcase in the UK for contemporary art under £4,000 having welcomed over 430,000 visitors who have bought £73 million of art. AAF has also become something of a global phenomenon with fairs taking place in Amsterdam, Paris, Brussels, New York and Singapore, while affiliate events include Sydney and Melbourne. Globally, 783,000 people have visited an Affordable Art Fair, buying over £123 million of art.

Exhibiting at THE NORTON WAY GALLERY

2010-10-05T10:41:00.000-07:00

Exhibiting five new pieces at THE NORTON WAY GALLERY

To view them visit THE NORTON WAY GALLERY

51 Norton Way North,
Letchworth Garden City
Hertfordshire
SG6 1BH
United Kingdom

Or visit their website HERE

I am exhibiting NEW works at THE PALACE ART FAIR

2010-09-30T02:54:00.000-07:00

Exhibiting new pieces with FOURWALLS Contemporary art gallery at THE PALACE ART FAIR

THE PALACE ART FAIR

7th - 10 October 2010

The Palace Art Fair takes place at Fulham Palace
Bishop's Avenue
London, SW6 6EA

MAP

The team behind Brighton art team is pleased to announce a brand new art event in the Capital The Palace Art Fair to be held at Fulham Palace, London.

The Palace Art Fair will build on what people like most about the successful Brighton Art Fair, in terms of quality, size and friendliness but transferred to a beautiful new venue, and attracting a new audience.

We believe that there is a need for a high quality art event in London which provides a smaller scale more intimate show in contrast to some of London’s vast art events. Like Brighton, The Palace Art Fair will showcase just over 100 contemporary artists across all media who will exhibit and sell their work direct to the public. This keeps the atmosphere informal; intimate and provides a wonderful environment for first time art buyers or for collectors to seek out up and coming artists.

A beautiful cafe in the Georgian wing of the palace with an outside terrace provides an area to relax and contemplate potential purchases whilst enjoying great seasonal food and drink.

Exhibiting at the ENID LAWSON GALLERY

2010-09-16T08:21:00.000-07:00

I have three paintings exhibiting at the Enid Lawson Gallery from today!

For more information please visit their website HERE.

ENID LAWSON GALLERY

11 New Cavendish Street
London W1G 9UD

Selected for IMAGES 34

2010-09-12T04:39:00.000-07:00

Selected for IMAGES 34

The Best of British Contemporary Illustration 2010

Exhibition Opening this week.

8th September – 14th September 2010
London College of Communication, Elephant & Castle
Opening times: 10 - 5pm weekdays, 10 – 4pm, Saturdays, closed Sundays
Admission free

I had my KAREN O "RIDING IN THE WOODS" selected this year for the exhibition and both 'RIDING IN THE WOODS" and "THE GATHERING" (the mural) selected in IMAGES 34 the BOOK.

The AOI's Images is the premier and longest running jury-selected illustration annual and touring exhibition in the UK. It provides the leading showcase for the huge variety of contemporary illustration commissioned in the UK today, published alongside self initiated promotional artwork and up-and-coming new talent.

LOST LAND-LA TIERRA PROMETIDA

2010-07-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

LOST LAND-LA TIERRA PROMETIDA

Acrylic-gouache on paper

LOST LAND-LA TIERRA PROMETIDA is my latest painting.

Created in the month of June,it was commission to me by another London based private collector.

This time the brief was very ample,a fresh uplifting landscape.

Lately I seem to be looking at a lot of Naive Art and having Henri Rousseau as one of my favorite artists I couldn't help but get inspired by his landscapes.

The painting is 80 x 110 cm big, painted with acrylic and gouache on Khadi Indian handmade paper.

Hope you enjoy!!

A day at my studio!!

2010-05-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

Spend "A day with me...." at Rohini's wonderful blog, The beat my heart skipped.

Click HERE to view some pictures of my house-studio and learn a bit more about my work!! :)

SPRING window dressing

2010-04-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

SPRING window painting!

Every season I am asked to paint freely on Shepherds Southampton branch windows.

Last week I did these flowers and leaves to represent Spring.

SHEPHERDS

Bookbinding,

stationers and fine paper merchants

76 Southampton Row

London WC1B 4AR

THE KISS

2010-04-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

THE KISS is my most recent painting.

Created during the month of March, it was commission to me by a London based private collector. The painting is to be a gift for a newly wedded couple.

I haven't painted figures for a while now, so when LOVE was suggested as a starting point I immediately thought of Marc Chagall's Art and his amorous floating couples, witch for me these, represent that essential,dreamy uplifting sense of bliss in the early stages of love.

And that's the feeling I wanted to achieve with this painting. I wanted to create a peaceful isolated timeless place where there is only room for the warmth of a secure ever lasting love.

This feeling had to be framed with a tropical storm, the rain in my thinking adds to their sensuality, freshness and the growth of the general mood.

THE KISS

Acrylic on paper 65 x 50 cm

KLIMT

Klimt is another essential source of inspiration for me when it comes to sensuality,luxury and wealth.

MARC CHAGALL

I absolutely love this painting,it is so romantic.

New Paintings

2010-04-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

These paintings were created during the months of January-February 2010.You can view more on my website: www.melissalaunay.com.

I exhibited them in the Conservatory,south London (see image of space below) with Hannah Battershell this last February.

We came across the theme "To all the hidden creatures" because we both have this tendency to be attracted to the undiscovered little specimens that live out there somewhere in the deepest of forests.

I recently discovered one of these very unusual humminfish bird flying in my garden and couldn't help myself to illustrate it eating from an exotic flower.My backgrounds these days, are very influenced by Indian art,specially the royal paintings of Jodhpur (The Bristish Museum exhibited many of these royal paintings last summer in an exhibition titled Landscape and Cosmos). I have always been attracted to Indian textiles and their rich colors and these little insects and mixed match creatures seem to fly right into them very naturally.

Hope you enjoy!

THE LITTLE BEAST AT PLAY

Gouache on paper 12 x 12 cm

THE FLIGHT OF THE GOLDEN FISH

Gouache on paper 12 x 12 cm

THE FEAST OF THE FLYING FISH

Gouache on paper 12 x 12 cm

THE HIDDEN CREATURES

Gouache on paper 40 x 60 cm

This Painting is now the official image for AESTIVAL,This is non-profit summer festival, with any proceeds going to Barnardo's a charity that helps vulnerable children.It will be held at Kentwell Hall in Suffolk this september 4 and 5th. For more information please click HERE

MIDNIGHT AT FIREFLY FOREST

Gouache on paper 40 x 60 cm

To all the hidden creatures

2010-04-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

TO ALL THE HIDDEN CREATURES

Is the tittle of a cozy exhibition held at The Conservatory,south London on the 28th February 2010.

Featuring works by Hannah Battershell and me!

Here some images and a little description of HANNAH'S works:

Hannah Battershell is a self taught, London based artist whose work spans from miniature paintings on buttons to collages with Japanese papers. Her interest lies in teasing out the narratives to be found in the overlooked or throwaway items encountered in day to day life. Scraps of paper, matchboxes, pins and buttons become the main focus of each piece, seemingly insignificant objects are bestowed an almost talismanic quality. Her gothic leanings and dark subject matters are always tempered by a silly sense of humour, often lending her work the 'quirky exuberance of a children’s story book'

Hannah's work, to view more please go HERE

THE CONSERVATORY

a beautiful space in south London

I painted on the glass with easily removable white pens (called: Uni Posca) great fun!

Left the empty spaces for the framed paintings. Then hang them with suction hooks attached to the glass.

A cozy exhibition held at The Conservatory,south London on the 28th February 2010.

Featuring works by Hannah Battershell and me!