VanDiver, Melissa: - Melissa Vandiver is a New Orleans-based artist and illustrator specializing in acrylic, gouache, and watercolor. Her artistic mission is simple: to create images that evoke joy in a dark world. She grew up in South Carolina, and has been drawing and painting since she can remember. Vandiver studied architecture at Clemson University, combining her math brain with her art brain. She is best known for her whimsical themed pet portraits and for children's illustrations. When not drawing and painting, Vandiver is glittering, hot gluing, talking to dogs like they're people, working on costumes and floats, and other general introvert fun.