Babiche Martens
It’s impossible to look away from any work by Maria Francesca Melis. The artist, who splits her time between Auckland and Sardinia, creates rich, detailed illustrations that evoke vibrant stories.
Tell us about your art journey so far.
I’ve always been drawn to storytelling through images. I grew up in a small village in Sardinia surrounded by nature and I was a very energetic and creative child, always exploring outside and making things with my hands. My background is in classical studies and photography in Italy, followed by graphic design in New Zealand.
Over time, illustration became my way of capturing emotion and rhythm – of translating the small, quiet beauty of everyday life into something lasting. I realised that illustration is a powerful way to express emotion and that nature teaches us patience, reminding us that everything unfolds in its own time. Today I work across personal and commissioned projects, blending my Sardinian heritage, classical art background and graphic design training.
How long does it take you to create a piece from start to finish?
It really depends on the piece. Some illustrations come together in a day when everything aligns, while others take a week or more as I refine sketches, composition, colour balance and texture.
My process usually begins with pencil, ink, and paper – I need that tactile connection at the start – and then I move into digital or mixed media to bring the work to life. Because I love layering detail, botany and texture, I always allow time for those subtleties to emerge naturally.
Where do you find inspiration?
Inspiration is everywhere – in nature, mythology, culture, travel and human emotion. Sardinia’s rich heritage is a constant source for me: its textiles, folklore and connection to the landscape. I’m also inspired by ’60s and ’70s design, 18th-century botanical paintings and the relationship between humans and nature.
Music plays a huge role, too. I listen to artists like Tori Amos, La Luz, Kate Bush, Bjork, El Michels Affair, Fleetwood Mac, Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler. Lately, I’ve been fascinated by French electronic and lounge sounds – artists like Air and Jean-Jacques Perrey – that dreamy, retro-futurist mood really connects to
how I think about colour and atmosphere in my work.
You split your time between New Zealand and Sardinia. Does your art style or inspiration change between locations?
Absolutely. Sardinia brings warmth, deep textures, heritage and Mediterranean light – it’s bold, earthy and full of symbolism. New Zealand, in contrast, gives me calm, space and a connection to lush natural landscapes.
In Sardinia, my work becomes more intricate, full of sun-soaked tones and detailed patterns; in New Zealand, it softens – more reflective and atmospheric. Moving between the two has taught me how the environment shapes perception and emotion, which in turn shapes how I illustrate.
Your works always have such a brilliant colour palette. Have you always been drawn to colour?
Yes, always. Colour is the foundation of my work; it’s how I think and feel before I even draw a line. To me, colour is emotional language: every hue has its own rhythm, temperature and energy.
Where’s your favourite place to create?
My favourite place to create is my home in Sardinia, in a small inland village called Las Plassas. The house I grew up in is very bucolic and idyllic, surrounded by the plants and flowers my parents lovingly care for every day. Waking up there, sitting in the garden with a slice of bread and tomato and starting to draw as the light changes, it’s pure joy for me. There’s a calmness and simplicity in that space that always reconnects me to why I create.
You’ve had your work on some incredible formats. Are there any other formats you’d love to see your work?
I’d love to see my illustrations translated into textiles or ceramics, something tactile that people can use or wear. The idea of my work becoming part of everyday life really excites me. Art doesn’t have to stay on paper; it can move, be held, be lived with.
What do you have coming up for your art?
I’m currently working on two fully illustrated books, which I’m incredibly excited about. Alongside that, I’m collaborating with Hermes, a deeply meaningful, once-in-a lifetime project that I feel truly honoured to be part of.
I’m also developing a personal series inspired by Mediterranean mythology and its fascinating connections with Irish, Scottish, and English myths, exploring
how these ancient stories intertwine through symbolism, nature and shared archetypes.
Where can our readers find you?
On my website: francesca-melis.com and on Instagram: @mfrancescamelis for updates, new projects and glimpses of life between Sardinia and New Zealand.
Read more:
- Year of Art: Photographer Emily Chalk captures life in colour
- Artist Alice Alva’s colourful world of reused materials
- Artist Leigh Thompson explores an ever-changing world through clay
