Meet Melarie Odelusi | Illustrator and Lettering Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melarie Odelusi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melarie, why did you pursue a creative career?
I found interest in art when I was really young and it has been a form of healing and self expression for me since. I was always the girl carrying a sketch book around school and would skip lunch to paint in art class. I knew that my career would somehow consist of art or something creative. Ultimately, I wanted to be an artist and sell my work to people who connected with it, which is wild that I am doing that today. There is this narrative of the starting artist that kept me from fearlessly pursuing an art career so I went to college for Fashion Merchandising in hopes of stumbling into a role that would fit financially and creatively. I worked in corporate retail a few years and became a stay at home mom shortly after my son was born. That is when all of the magic happened. I started creating again after what had been forever after I graduated. I taught myself calligraphy and modern lettering and begin creating for weddings and special events. A year later, I started illustrating and here we are now. Life is wild like that.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art embodies modern edge, feminine hues and intentional lines that capture and convey the elegance and strength of women. I share my experiences as a woman through my work in hopes that other women will be able to connect and see themselves in my work. It is the storytelling that makes art so healing and allows others to feel seen. I love when women tell me how my work sets the tone for their space and is a reminder for them when times are difficult. It is how this all started for me. I needed works and art in my home to encourage and uplift me in hard times so I am so excited that my work can do the same for others.

My mission as an artist is to celebrate women, our lovely layers, femininity and strength while encouraging empowerment and representation through illustration and modern lettering. I believe that my work sets me part because God created me like no one else. I am the heart and soul behind what I create. Another artist and I can illustrate the same piece and it will always look different. Beautiful, right? I think we forget so often how many people to sharing similar stories, create the same product or do the same type of work but it would not sound or look the same because we are all different.

This has been a journey of discovery of myself and art when it come to being a creative entrepreneur. I have learned so much from so many people and having community is why I am where I am professionally. It has not been easy but I love what I do so much that I have powered through some pretty difficult seasons and I do not regret it. Making mistakes is how we learn and it helps to be surrounded by people who believe in you and your work. I have had to learn about money, taxes, operations, how to be resourceful and work with that I have, you name it. One thing I will say is that no time or experience is in vain. A lot of what I learned in my career has helped me in tremendous way wile running my own business. That is one lesson I would never forget.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Dallas-Fort Worth is huge so it would definitely take a few days to move around! I am a mom of two so a lot of what I do when I am away from home is eat really good food and go to museums from time to time.

We would definitely stay at The Nylo Hotel in Dallas! As far as food, we would be stopping by Cane Rosso, Crush Craft Thai, Breadwinners, HopDoddys, Velvet Taco, Rudy’s Chicken, Aunt Irene’s and the list goes on! I love food if you haven’t noticed.

We would hit all of the art museums that DFW has to offer and shop at NorthPark, The Galleria and Shops of Legacy. Grab coffee from Soiree Coffee and macarons from JOYs. For the night life, we would keep it low key and grab food downtown.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wish that I can send the gigantic list that immediately flooded my brain just now because it takes a village! God first. He gave me this gift of creativity and surrounded me with people that poured into me up until this point. He is so faithful and has showed me so much about His provision and grace through this journey.

From there, it’s my mom for buying me all of the art kits in the store and encouraging me to be creative while my Dad taught me how to believe in myself and who God called me to be. My siblings for always rooting for me even though I know they did not understand my wild ideas at times. My husband for always supporting me through this journey, I know it can been a rollercoaster being married to a creative. He is always down for the cause. Ha!

Lastly, everyone who has supported me on this journey. From the person who hired me to letter for their wedding or event, paint a portrait or create for their brand. Anything! They believed in my work and trusted me enough to play a major part in their vision and idea. That means everything to me.

Website: www.melarieodelusi.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melarieodelusi/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melarie-l-odelusi-51577086/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/melarieodelusi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melarieodelusi

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/melarieodelusi

Image Credits
Headshot : Cory Moore @eyecreatereality https://eyecreatereality.com