The words “artist studio” tend to conjure up images of glass jars full of paint brushes and pencils, half-finished canvases and sketches on tables, and the smells of paint and imagination hanging in the air. And in the case of author and Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator Award winning creator Roger Mello, these images would be correct—sort of.

For this CTCB “3rd Tuesday” chat, Roger joined CTCB Director Junko Yokota to share the unique nature of HIS artist studio. Or rather STUDIOS.

For Roger Mello, the world is his studio.

During the hour-long discussion, Roger let us in on the secret to his inspiration: he pays attention to EVERYTHING around him, from glimpses of trees on a roadside to brick pig iron ovens spied out a car window. And from these glimpses, Roger sketches on whatever is handy—the paper napkin under his cup on an airplane or in one of his many sketchbooks.

It is from these sketches that his studios blossom around the world: a specially built studio on Jeju Island in South Korea, a living room floor in Illinois, or in one of his studio spaces at home in Brazil.

And what beautiful creations come from these far-flung spaces. At the end of the chat Roger shared some of his previously unseen pieces from his portfolio—much to the delight of all who joined us.

At the end of our time together, Roger had proven that the building blocks of artistic expression are all around us, as are the magical spaces to bring our inspiration to life.

Watch the interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXsOSBWSnfc&t=8s