BLOG | Scratchboard Artist | Melissa Helene Fine Arts

Feb 4
3 min

Six Tips to Tackle Instagram Marketing

Social media marketing is a beast and we are all trying to figure out how to harness its magical powers to our advantage. Instagram, in particular, is amazing for artists and makers because it is a highly visual platform. With a little work and intentionality, Instagram can be a great tool for you to build your audience, gain feedback from your followers, connect and engage with other artists, teach others, build your email list, and sell your work! There are no magical formu

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How to Get Your Very Own Custom Scratchboard Pet Portrait

melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

How to Get Your Very Own Custom Scratchboard Pet Portrait

Pros of Scratchboard Scratchboard is an excellent choice for your custom pet portrait! It is a rare, ancient medium that most people haven't heard of and only a few artists work in. Scratchboard is highly-detailed and offers incredible black and white contrast. My work, specifically, is photo-realistic and focuses on the unique details of your pet's face. For that reason, your reference image is the most important part of having a portrait commissioned. Reference Images To g

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Frequently Asked Questions | Third Edition | Scratchboard

melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
4 min

Frequently Asked Questions | Third Edition | Scratchboard

Welcome to the Third Edition of the Frequently Asked Questions series where I answer, in greater depth, all of your burning questions about scratchboard and my wildlife artwork, specifically. Let's dive it! #1 Where Do I Find the Extra Thin (or Mini) Fiberglass Brush? My favorite tool is the small fiberglass brush. I use it for EVERY piece that I create. It is the most VERSATILE tool in my kit. The brush can be used to create soft and fluffy fur textures, smooth skin and the

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African Elephant | Endangered Species Series

melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

African Elephant | Endangered Species Series

African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) Quick Facts: Status: Threatened Population: 470,000 Height: 8.2 - 13 ft Weight: 5,000 - 14,000 lbs Average Lifespan: up to 70 years Habitat: Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests, Flooded Grasslands and Savannahs, Miombo woodlands, Acacia savannahs Range: Central and Southern Africa Diet: Herbivores - roots, grasses, fruit, and bark; they consume up to 300 lbs in one day African Elephants are the largest land animals and are sl

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melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Bonobo | Endangered Species Series

Bonobo (Pan paniscus) Quick Facts: Status: ENDANGERED Population: 10,000 - 50,000 individuals Height: 28 - 35 in Weight: 68 - 86 lbs Habitat: Rainfoorest Range: Congo Basin Diet: Frugivores - half their diet is fruit, supplemented with insects, worms, eggs, and small animals The bonobo, also known as the pygmy chimpanzee, is smaller, leaner, and darker than the chimpanzee with pink lips and a smaller head and ears, though they both share 98% of their DNA with humans - making

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Amur Leopard | Endangered Species Series

melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Amur Leopard | Endangered Species Series

Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) Quick Facts: Status: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED Population: around 60 individuals Body Length: up to 5 feet Weight: 70 - 105lbs Lifespan: 10 - 15 years Habitat: temperate, broadleaf, and mixed forests Diet: roe and sika deer, hares, badgers, mice, and other small animals The amur leopard, the world's rarest cat, is found in the northern-most part of the species' range, Far East Russia. This rare species has adapted to life in the temperat

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melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Orangutan | Endangered Species Series

Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) Quick Facts: ENDANGERED Population: 40,000 (down from 60,000 just a decade ago) Height: 4 to 5 ft Weight: 73 - 180 lbs Arm Span: males may stretch their arms up to 7 ft Average Life Span: 30 - 40 years Habitat: tropical rainforest Range: Sumatra and Borneo (the only species of ape to come from Asia) Diet: fruit, leaves, bark, insects, and on rare occasions, meat The long-haired, orange primates are closely related to humans (sharing 97% of the same

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melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Red Panda | Endangered Species Series

Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) Quick Facts: Size - Head and body, 20 to 26 in (50 to 65 cm); Tail, 12 to 20 in (30 to 50 cm) Weight - 12 to 20 lbs (5.4 to 9 kg) Lifespan - 8 years Diet - herbivore; bamboo, fruits, acorns, roots, eggs Habitat - high-altitude forests and mountains; Nepal, Myanmar, and central China Population - less than 10,000 individuals STATUS: Endangered The red panda has been classified as a relative to the giant panda, as well as the raccoon. They are curre

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melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
3 min

Grey Wolf | Endangered Species Series

Grey Wolf (Canus Lupus) - ENDANGERED Once almost completely disappeared from the lower 48 states, the grey wolf is making a comeback in the Great Lakes, northern Rockies, and the Southwestern United States. There are an estimated 7,000 - 11,200 in Alaska, 3,700 in the Great Lakes region, and 1,675 in the Southwest. The ancestor of our domestic dog, the grey wolf ranges in color from grizzled grey or black to white. Wolves play a key role in sustaining healthy ecosystems. T

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melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Polar Bears | Endangered Species Series

Polar Bears...the romantic symbol for the plight of the endangered species. Polar bears have become one of the head figures for the global climate change movement and for this reason, they may be one of the lucky ones. All endangered species need our attention and our help to preserve their habitat and protect them from harm, but there are so many of those species that no one in the general public knows about or cares about. The polar bear is a large, beautiful creature an

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melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Rhinoceros | Endangered Species Series

There are five different species of rhinoceros, with 11 subspecies, that are at different levels of endangerment, but continue to be threatened (human encroachment, poaching, etc) and need our protection to stabilize, grow, and thrive. Ranging from 1300 - 6000 lbs, 3 - 6.5 ft at the shoulder, and 6.5 - 15 ft from head to tail, the different species of rhinos have unique features, including number of horns and snout shape, but all are herbivores. The specific vegetation they

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African Lions (Panthera leo) | Endangered Species Series

melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

African Lions (Panthera leo) | Endangered Species Series

The African Lion is a majestic, powerful, and beautiful creature that is symbolic in many ways for a lot of people. Lions have been a fascination of mine for a long time and have become one of my favorite subjects to draw. They are amazing creatures and really need our support and help to flourish. Please continue reading to learn more about their habits, what is threatening them, and WHAT YOU CAN DO to make a difference! African Lion (Panthera leo) The African Lion is lis

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Golden Headed Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) | Endangered Species Series

melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Golden Headed Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) | Endangered Species Series

Golden Headed Lion Tamarin (LEONTOPITHECUS CHRYSOMELAS) Length: body - 22-26cm, tail - 33-40cm Weight: 480-700g (1-1.5 lbs) Home range: Brazil Habitat: rain forests Diet: fruits, seeds, lizards Social Structure: live in family groups started by a mated pair, up to 8 individuals Lion tamarins usually give birth to twins. The Golden Headed Lion Tamarin's name describes its appearance perfectly, as the long, orange mane around its face is reminiscent of a male lion's. When in d

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Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) | Endangered Species Series

melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) | Endangered Species Series

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Average Weight: females - 5-8kg, males - 6-12kg Grouping: predominantly solitary with complex social hierarchies based on a dominant male with territory that overlaps several females and sub-ordinate males on the periphery Range: Australia - NE Queensland to Eyre Peninsula in the south Habitat: temperate, sub-tropical and tropical forests, woodlands, and semi-arid eucalypt areas Population: fewer than 80,000 in the wild, may be as few as 43,000

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Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) | Endangered Species Series

melissahelene

Sep 9, 2020
2 min

Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) | Endangered Species Series

Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) "The bighorn sheep is one of two species of mountain sheep in North America." These animals range in color from light brown to grayish to dark brown and have a white rump and lining down their legs. The bighorn sheep is named for the large, curved horns of the males - rams. They are legendary for their ability to climb very steep and rocky mountains. Height: rams 3 - 3 1/2 ft, ewes are smaller Weight: 140 - 300lbs Length: rams 5ft 3in - 6ft, ew

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MH