Meet The Artist 2024 - Melissa Charpentier
Behind every exclusive piece of artwork that Designer Bums uses on their limited edition baby and parenting products is an artist from all over the world.
The first and longest standing artist to work with us is the talented Melissa Charpentier. Residing in Kamloops, BC with her family, Melissa is best known for her design of the Designer Bums signature moon phase prints, as well as her highly detailed watercolour designs featured across many of our ranges.
With the recent release of our Elemental Magic collection that features many of Melissa’s designs, such as Huntress, Pixie Moon and Star Swallow, we recently sat down with the artist herself for a catch up and to see what she’s been up to in 2024.
How long have you been creating art for Designer Bums now?
Melissa: I’ve been working alongside Carla for Designer Bums since 2016 (Nearly 10 years!) Originally we connected through a mutual babywearing brand we both liked and she reached out and offered me the opportunity to create a few patterns for her brand. She was recreating her brand with a focus on artist designed prints, a first for the industry. I’m forever grateful for her inviting me to join her on this journey.
A decade is a long time! Where has life taken you in those years?
Melissa: Life’s been good for my family, my children Ryland age 11 and Gideon age 7 are growing up before my eyes. Many will remember Gideons NICU journey, he’s now an amazing big kid in grade 2, so creative and loves dancing ballet. Rylands is very computer minded and loves coding and video games. My husband still works a FIFO job at a northern Canadian diamond mine which many Aussie families can relate to. Our home is small and full of love, we have two cats and 4 backyard hens. I’ve been volunteering at the Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association for a year. It’s been such a great place to volunteer my time, spending time around horses again has brought me much joy. We hope to do some travelling in the near future. Mostly just enjoying the riches of life: slow mornings, happy marriage, wonderful kids and time spent together.
What was your inspiration behind the artworks featured in the Elemental Magic collection?
Melissa: My Inspiration when it comes to my art has always been rooted in the natural world. I’m often bringing my work with me to my husband's family cabin on the Shuswap, painting things that inspired me from our local travels. I also find inspiration from things I just find beautiful. I often take screenshots of things I find inspiring. A Quick Look in my file shows what I recently liked: forest green unique ceramic tiles in a cabin, someone’s paper maché art sculpture, vintage wallpaper, a quilt design, pressed flowers and a cosy farmers market photo.
What is your favourite design in the Elemental Magic collection?
Melissa: My favourite piece in the Elemental Magic collection is undoubtedly the two sister prints Orca Pod and Oceania. They not only were a joy to paint, I really think they represent the friendship Carla and I have. A little slice of Canada and a little slice of Australia. I often joke that Canadians are just chilly Australians and Aussies are just warm Canadians.
What’s something people may find surprising about your artistic processes and prints?
Melissa: I don’t use photoshop other than the finishing work to seamlessly blend the tiles. I think it’s pretty commonplace that pattern design now is painted in pieces then scanned and digitally arranged and duplicated to create the pattern.
While I think those patterns are so cool, I prefer to design my patterns / mural mats as a singular piece of artwork. I’m not the most tech savvy so this traditional way of doing it makes me happy. It takes extra time to plot and plan, especially with watercolour, there can be no mistakes. Sometimes I think I make it a little harder on myself, but I think the end result is really warm and you can feel its charm. Any piece I’ve ever made could hypothetically be framed and hung up which I think is really cool.
How do you see your art evolving in the future?
Melissa: I think like most artists just staying inspired is the goal, I got the opportunity to illustrate a book over Covid and would love to branch into that a bit more. Always looking to finesse my skills as a pattern illustrator.
What does it mean to see your artwork on our nappies and other products?
Melissa: In my little corner of Canada I’ve never once seen my art in the wild. No one really knows who I am or what I do. So when I see my artwork online, children in Australia and around the world, growing up, making memories, going on adventures and my artwork getting to play a role in that…. It’s extremely emotional. It’s such a magical thing to have someone choose your artwork on a product because they’d like it in their home, for their children, for themselves. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity and hope someday I catch that long awaited DB in the wild experience.
What other exciting projects are you working on?
Recently I’ve joined the artist guild up at Sunpeaks, the local ski hill. I’ve been lucky enough to be chosen to showcase my artwork in the tourism building and guest services with some additional opportunities to come. These are works many DB fans might not know I do if you don’t follow me on Instagram, but they’re landscape paintings. It’s been fun to do something new and express myself in that way with acrylics and reach a new audience. I’m so thankful for their belief in my landscape skills even though they’re newer.
Thank you, Melissa, for giving us an update on where you are now! To get Melissa’s exclusive-to-Designer Bums designs for yourself or your baby, shop now at Designer Bums!
Keep up with Melissa’s journey on Instagram!
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