Editorial and Narrative Art Rooted in Story

Pigeon in a Jam: The Cable Conundrum

Mixed media portrait of Jesse Welles playing guitar in a field with power lines in the background. — Jesse Welles

The Class Picture

Rapunzel's Reckoning

Fragile Sanctuary Potential Cover art for The New Yorker

Kamala Rise

portrait of Greta Thunberg — Greta Thunberg

Jimi Hendrix

Image of a woman peeking from behind torn wallpaper for an illustration portfolio. — The Yellow Wallpaper Cover Art

Illustration of Deborah Harry — Deborah Harry

Poster for A Raisin In the Sun

Man Behind Bars

Iconic portrait of Patti Smith for an illustration portfolio. — Patti Smith

Collage of a woman taking a coffee break from Holiday Shopping for my illustration portfolio. — Holiday Break

Peaceful George

Ringo's Garden

Deportation 47

Digital paper collage of the fashion icon Iris Apfel for illustration portfolio.an — Iris Apfel

Truman Capote Swan Song

Ed Sheeran

ink illustrations of 2 raccoons racing a shopping cart down hill. — Reckless Raccoons

Inside Hictchcock

Melissa Whitaker is an editorial and narrative illustrator based in the St. Louis area. Driven by curiosity and keen observation, my work explores character, culture, and storytelling through expressive imagery. Working with multiple media, including ink, collage, and digital media, I create images that invite viewers to look closer and stay a little longer.