Melinda Bordelon
Encyclopedia
Melinda Jane Bordelon was an American painter
and illustrator
whose professional work adorned magazine
covers, articles, and advertisements—as well as album cover
s, book cover
s, and video game packaging
—produced from the early 1970s through the 1990s. Her principal art media were acrylic paint
and ink
.
Raised in Amarillo, Texas
, Bordelon attended Texas Christian University
in Fort Worth
, where she studied illustration
under Don Ivan Punchatz
.
Shortly after Bordelon relocated from Texas to Cornwall, New York
in the early 1970s, the weekly magazine New York
commissioned
her to contribute a painting to a collection illustrating dramatic scenes from the Watergate scandal
. She was one of the few artists selected who had never worked with the magazine before. Within a year, through her work for various magazines, Bordelon became a highly sought-after illustrator in American media.
Among her magazine cover illustrations were the June 1974 issue of National Lampoon, the October 1976 issue of Sesame Street Magazine
, and the October 1982 issue of Harper's Magazine
. Her extensive magazine credits also included article illustrations for Esquire
, National Lampoon, Oui
, and Playboy.
The Society of Illustrators
recognized Bordelon for her illustration work on three occasions between 1974 and 1977. The Society first awarded her for the cover of the 1974 Brownsville Station
album School Punks, which she illustrated by commission of Atlantic Records
. In the spring of 1975, the Society exhibited this album art, among others, at Illustrators XVII, the 17th such exhibition at their contemporary art gallery
in New York. In addition, they subsequently exhibited her work at Illustrators XVIII (1976) and Illustrators XIX (1977).
In the mid-1990s, Bordelon also provided illustrations and creative input for some of Origin Systems
' video game releases.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
whose professional work adorned magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
covers, articles, and advertisements—as well as album cover
Album cover
An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10" and 12" 78 rpm records, single and sets of 12" LPs, sets of 45 rpm records , or the front-facing...
s, book cover
Book cover
A book cover is any protective covering used to bind together the pages of a book. Beyond the familiar distinction between hardcovers and paperbacks, there are further alternatives and additions, such as dust jackets, ring-binding, and older forms such as the nineteenth-century "paper-boards" and...
s, and video game packaging
Video game packaging
Video game packaging refers to the physical storage of the contents of a computer or video game, both for safekeeping and shop display. In the past, a number of materials and packaging designs were used, mostly paperboard or plastic...
—produced from the early 1970s through the 1990s. Her principal art media were acrylic paint
Acrylic paint
Acrylic paint is fast drying paint containing pigment suspension in acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, but become water-resistant when dry...
and ink
Ink
Ink is a liquid or paste that contains pigments and/or dyes and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink is used for drawing and/or writing with a pen, brush, or quill...
.
Raised in Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
, Bordelon attended Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
in Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, where she studied illustration
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
under Don Ivan Punchatz
Don Ivan Punchatz
Don Ivan Punchatz was a science fiction and fantasy artist who drew illustrations for numerous publications, including magazines such as Heavy Metal, National Geographic, Playboy, and Time....
.
Shortly after Bordelon relocated from Texas to Cornwall, New York
Cornwall, New York
Cornwall is a town in Orange County, New York, USA. It is located about 50 miles north of New York City on the western shore of the Hudson River. The estimated population in 2007 was 12,827....
in the early 1970s, the weekly magazine New York
New York (magazine)
New York is a weekly magazine principally concerned with the life, culture, politics, and style of New York City. Founded by Milton Glaser and Clay Felker in 1968 as a competitor to The New Yorker, it was brasher and less polite than that magazine, and established itself as a cradle of New...
commissioned
Commission (art)
In art, a commission is the hiring and payment for the creation of a piece, often on behalf of another.In classical music, ensembles often commission pieces from composers, where the ensemble secures the composer's payment from private or public organizations or donors.- Commissions for public art...
her to contribute a painting to a collection illustrating dramatic scenes from the Watergate scandal
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
. She was one of the few artists selected who had never worked with the magazine before. Within a year, through her work for various magazines, Bordelon became a highly sought-after illustrator in American media.
Among her magazine cover illustrations were the June 1974 issue of National Lampoon, the October 1976 issue of Sesame Street Magazine
Sesame Street Magazine
Sesame Street Magazine is an American monthly magazine based on the children's television series Sesame Street. The magazine features characters from the television series, and emphasizes the educational goals of Sesame Street...
, and the October 1982 issue of Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
. Her extensive magazine credits also included article illustrations for Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
, National Lampoon, Oui
Oui (magazine)
Oui is a men's adult pornographic magazine published in the USA and featuring explicit nude photographs of models, with full page pin-ups, centerfolds, interviews and other articles, and cartoons.- Playboy years :...
, and Playboy.
The Society of Illustrators
Society of Illustrators
The Society of Illustrators is a professional society based in New York City. Founded in 1901, the mission of the Society is to promote the art and appreciation of illustration, as well as its history...
recognized Bordelon for her illustration work on three occasions between 1974 and 1977. The Society first awarded her for the cover of the 1974 Brownsville Station
Brownsville Station (band)
Brownsville Station was a rock band from Michigan that was popular in the 1970s. Original members included Cub Koda , Mike Lutz , T.J. Cronley , and Tony Driggins...
album School Punks, which she illustrated by commission of Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. In the spring of 1975, the Society exhibited this album art, among others, at Illustrators XVII, the 17th such exhibition at their contemporary art gallery
Contemporary art gallery
A contemporary art gallery is a place where contemporary art is shown for exhibition and/or for sale. The term "art gallery" is commonly used to mean art museum , the rooms displaying art in any museum, or in the original sense, of any large or long room.-Identity, function and locality:A...
in New York. In addition, they subsequently exhibited her work at Illustrators XVIII (1976) and Illustrators XIX (1977).
In the mid-1990s, Bordelon also provided illustrations and creative input for some of Origin Systems
Origin Systems
Origin Systems, Inc. was a computer game developer based in Austin, Texas that was active from 1983 to 2004...
' video game releases.