Jonathan Melo

Artist and Educator

Born and raised in New Bedford, Massachusetts, I decided at a young age that I wanted to be an artist professionally. I grew up creating art inspired by the cartoons and comic books that I surrounded myself with. In the 8th grade, I decided I wanted to be a teacher. I entered college at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth as an art education major. I originally had a concentration in illustration, but changed it to drawing and fell in love with figure drawing and portraiture. 

Throughout my life, I've been inspired by various creators in a wide arrange of different media from film and animation to illustration and comic books. Some of my biggest influences include Kevin Smith, the late Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Sam Spratt, Justin Maas and Kehinde Wiley. I specialize in portraiture and love creating works inspired by music and things I watch in film and television.

I received my Bachelors degree in Art Education in May of 2020 from UMass Dartmouth and am currently pursuing a Masters degree in Art Education at UMass Dartmouth.

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