I especially enjoy sketching and illustrating comics. Four years ago I began to draw without using the aid of a reference, but working from what I can imagine alone. That has become my primary style. “I love comic art and usually gravitate towards it, rather than realism,” said Melindi.

She has been living in Hoedspruit for the past 15 years and did homeschooling from grade 7. She also works part-time in her mother’s shop, runs her own business, and is a college student. Melindi has been drawing nearly every day of her life for the last three years. “It started with the annual Inktober challenge.

The challenge requires an artist to draw every day for the month of October using ink-based mediums. The practice helped me figure out what my favourite art style is, what mediums I like using, and how I like to streamline my process. There are not many local resources to learn how to draw comic art, and because of the unique approach to my style, I’ve had to learn a lot from reading old comic books and some online resources.

I started customising shoes a few years ago for myself using fabric paints. A more recent design of mine done with Angelus leather paint as an experiment was well received by family and friends. That led me to do my first design to raise funds for my grandmother’s cancer treatment.

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Now I’ve done five more designs, two of which are still available.” “I enjoy using Copic markers, Angelus leather paint, and gelly roll pens,” she added. Her inspiration comes from fantasy and fiction as well as video games, fairytales, and history. “Each of my painted shoes holds a unique place in my heart as I attempt to use them to tell a story.

When I design characters for comics I attempt to give them as much life and character as possible, someone people can relate and connect to. “The start of everything for me is my imagination and stories. Because of the custom nature of my projects, I can do shoes of any size. So far I have mostly customised and decorated size 4, 5, and 6 ladies’ shoes.

I also paint on journals and denim jackets,” she said. “I recently started using Facebook as my business platform, and I also write blogs on the ProgramIT website. “I need a lot of time for specially commissioned work, as it can take up to 48 hours to complete a project. My already available products will be marketed on Facebook. My page is called Em Studios,” she concluded. Customers can contact her through WhatsApp at 072 338 0874 or through her Facebook page.