Artist Statement

Artist Statement

Melanie Morrison

    Storytelling is the primary reason I create art. Through animation, conceptual art, and game design, I like to combine our reality with the surreal dreams beyond this world, blurring the lines between the two while creating interesting compositions for the viewer. Creating the characters and environments is only the beginning, as I like to place these visions into a new world, making the entire story come alive.

     By the inspirations of countless artists like game designer Tetsuya Nomura or animator Seth McFarlane, I attempt to alter and create new ways in which digital storytelling can be brought to us. When I first begin on a new idea, I sometimes think and sketch for hours on how exactly I can make the piece stand out, prompting those who view my designs to wander deeply into the idea. Characters, landscapes, and various other materials with explanations for all fill the pages in my sketchbook. Plot ideas and writings can also find their way in this beginning process. These are helpful in the long run as it gives me information to take my idea further and allow all my thoughts to be organized. Afterwards, I write down all final details and eventually start on the final design. I know a piece is complete when I feel that if any more details were to be added, it would only scar the design instead of enhancing it.

     When viewers watch or look at my creations, I want them to be able to escape reality for a while and get lost in the world I’ve created. I wish for all aspects of the idea to seep into their minds and hopefully the audience will adore the story created. In the end, I hope viewers will keep my art inside their memories, so that it can continue to go further in time.