Today we’d like to introduce you to Manelle Oliphant.
Hi Manelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Like a lot of artists, I’ve always loved to draw. When I was in kindergarten, I drew a fantastic picture of a panda bear next to a palm tree. I didn’t know the difference between palm trees and bamboo, and neither did any of my classmates because they thought it was great.
Ever since then, I was branded “the artist”. I loved spending time at home drawing and coloring and that hasn’t changed. I also have always loved reading and watching TV. One of my favorite shows, when I was little, was called Faerie Tale Theatre. I watched it over and over, and I think that’s one of the reasons I love fairy tales and fantasy stories so much.
My parents encouraged my art and after I graduated from high school, I went to Ricks College to get an art degree. While I was there the school’s name was changed to BYU-Idaho and I was one of the first to graduate from there with a four-year degree in Illustration. Since then, I’ve pursued a career in children’s book illustration and I’ve illustrated over ten traditionally published books, and I’ve written and independently published seven other books.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the hardest things about children’s books is understanding how the business works. I started doing it because I wanted to tell stories that I loved, but the publishing world, especially the children’s book publishing world can be hard to learn and navigate, and there is also a lot of competition.
To get hired to illustrate books, or to publish books you’ve written you need an Agent, which means lots of submissions and rejections. And after you find an agent you work with them to submit to publishers. Which means more submissions and rejections.
What’s helped me during this process has been making art and telling stories and sharing those on social media. It’s lovely to have the chance to connect with people directly and focus there, while I also work through the world of traditional publishing has been helpful.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
A few months ago someone asked me if I was the “Salt Lake Mermaid Illustrator.” And I said, well, I guess so. A few years ago I wrote a story about a girl named Mable who was looking for mermaids around Salt Lake City, and despite this being a desert-y type place, she found them.
I shared this story on Instagram and got to be known for painting mermaids. But I also love creating all kinds of fantasy art including dragons and talking animals. I love telling stories with my art, and I’m working with my literary agent to sell an illustrated novel about a girl who is magically controlled by a magician. Most of my work is inspired by fairy tales and has a lot of historical influences. My main medium is watercolor.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
It took me a while to understand how important making art and creating stories can be. Often I would feel guilty when I spent time making art because I wasn’t sure if it was what I should be doing or if It would be worth it.
But I’ve learned that stories are so important to write/create and share. When I’m creating I can process things that are happening in my life and make sense of them, and when I share those stories they might help other people similarly.
Contact Info:
- Website: talesfantastic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesfantastic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talesfantastic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyuSMxMLGyUTuEuSWIg6InQ
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@talesfantastic?lang=en
Image Credits
Darian Oliphant and Manelle Oliphant
