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Hi, I'm Melissa Nelson—an illustrator and concept artist who loves bringing characters to life through playful, detailed visuals. I enjoy working on board games, magazine features, and animation, shaping both 2D and 3D artwork with a collaborative spirit and a love of storytelling. I thrive in fast-paced environments, embracing iteration and cross-disciplinary collaboration. I work with tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, Blender, Maya, and Unreal Engine to develop vibrant visuals from concept to final render.…Hi, I'm Melissa Nelson—an illustrator and concept artist who loves bringing characters to life through playful, detailed visuals. I enjoy working on board games, magazine features, and animation, shaping both 2D and 3D artwork with a collaborative spirit and a love of storytelling. I thrive in fast-paced environments, embracing iteration and cross-disciplinary collaboration. I work with tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, Blender, Maya, and Unreal Engine to develop vibrant visuals from concept to final render.

Melissa Nelson

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Hi, I'm Melissa Nelson—an illustrator and concept artist who loves bringing characters to life through playful, detailed visuals. I enjoy working on board games, magazine features, and animation, shaping both 2D and 3D artwork with a collaborative spirit and a love of storytelling. I thrive in fast-paced environments, embracing iteration and cross-disciplinary collaboration. I work with tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, Blender, Maya, and Unreal Engine to develop vibrant visuals from concept to final render.…Hi, I'm Melissa Nelson—an illustrator and concept artist who loves bringing characters to life through playful, detailed visuals. I enjoy working on board games, magazine features, and animation, shaping both 2D and 3D artwork with a collaborative spirit and a love of storytelling. I thrive in fast-paced environments, embracing iteration and cross-disciplinary collaboration. I work with tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, Blender, Maya, and Unreal Engine to develop vibrant visuals from concept to final render.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Melissa Nelson—an illustrator and concept artist who loves bringing characters to life through playful, detailed visuals. I enjoy working on board games, magazine features, and animation, shaping both 2D and 3D artwork with a collaborative spirit and a love of storytelling.

I thrive in fast-paced environments, embracing iteration and cross-disciplinary collaboration. I work with tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, Blender, Maya, and Unreal Engine to develop vibrant visuals from concept to final render.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Editorial Illustration

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Language

English

Fluent

Work Experience

Board Game Illustrator at Brigham Young University

November 1, 2023 - November 1, 2025

Character illustrator for BYU board game; collaborated with colleagues and managers every week to problem solve and revise work

Illustrator at Leading Edge Magazine

September 1, 2025 - March 1, 2026

Illustrated for two issues, full color illustrations and multiple insert illustrations

Freelance Illustrator at Self‑employed

January 1, 2024 - October 1, 2024

Illustrator for a middle school level chapter book; collaborated with publisher and author in designing and illustrating pages and cover accurately to their vision

Character Designer / 3D Artist (DaruMa) at Student Project: DaruMa

April 1, 2023 - September 1, 2023

Character designer for main characters; lead designer for second lead in a 3D animated short film, DaruMa

Art Director & Lead Character Designer at Capstone Project: Honey Business

October 1, 2024 - Present

Capstone 3D animated short film; Art director and lead character designer for the entire project; weekly meetings and collaboration with other artists, faculty, and performed as a leader from pre-production to post-production

Art Director at BYU Animated Short Film Projects / Capstone

October 1, 2024 - Present

Art director for an animated short film; Helped create work for both character design and visual development.

Freelance Illustrator at Freelance

January 1, 2024 - October 1, 2024

Illustrator for middle school level chapter book; Collaborated with publisher and author in designing and illustrating pages and cover, accurate to their vision.

Character Designer at BYU Daruma Project

April 1, 2023 - September 1, 2023

Character designer for both main characters; main designer for second lead 'Honey Business'.

Art Director / Visual Development Lead at Honey Business Capstone Project

October 1, 2024 - Present

Capstone 3D animated short film; Art director and lead for Vis Dev and character design for entire project; chaired weekly meetings and collaborated with other artists, faculty; led pre-production to post-production.

Board Game Illustrator at Brigham Young University (BYU) Board Game

November 1, 2023 - November 1, 2025

Character illustrator for BYU board game; collaborated with colleagues and managers weekly to problem solve and revise work.

Art Director at Self-Employed / Freelance

October 1, 2024 - Present

Art director for an animated short film; helped create work for both character designs and visual development.

Freelance Illustrator at Self-Employed

January 1, 2024 - October 1, 2024

Illustrator for middle school level chapter book; collaborated with publisher and author in designing and illustrating pages and cover accurate to their vision.

Character Designer at DaruMa (Student Project)

April 1, 2023 - September 1, 2023

3D animated short film; character designer for main characters, main designer for second lead 'Honey Business'.

Art Director at Capstone Project

October 1, 2024 - Present

Capstone 3D animated short film; art director and acted as Visual Development and character design lead for entire project; weekly meetings; collaborated with other artists and faculty; led from pre-production to post-production.