THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997              TAG: 9701210446
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST          PAGE: 7    EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Cover Story 
SOURCE: BY JOHN HARPER, CORRESPONDENT 
                                            LENGTH:   50 lines

ARTIST ALTERS HIS STYLE FOR THE BOOKS

Suzanne Tate tells the tales. But James Melvin makes her sea creatures come alive. Since the first ``Nature Series'' book was published almost a decade ago, Melvin has illustrated every book Tate has authored.

A Fayetteville native, Melvin holds a degree in art education from North Carolina A&T State University. He served as a Peace Corps art instructor in Botswana, Africa before moving to the Outer Banks in 1982.

A versatile artist, Melvin works in oils, acrylics and pastels. His acrylic work is colorful and simple - yet bold. The pastel and oil work takes on a more realistic approach.

Melvin met Tate at a Frank Stick Art Show, which led to Tate becoming his agent and distributing his art work.

In 1988, Tate came to Melvin with a proposal: Illustrate my children's book about two crabs, ``Crabby and Nabby.''

``I laughed at first,'' Melvin says. ``It wasn't really my style. I was more into fine arts.''

But Melvin, a deeply spiritual man, appreciated the characters' positive message about caring for one another. So he accepted the offer. And his partnership with the author has spanned 19 books.

Melvin says the illustrations for Tate's new book ``Oopsie Otter'' are slightly richer than those featured in the earlier books.

``They're more like a painting,'' he says.

The artist's works are on display at several Outer Banks art galleries and at his own Melvin's Studio and Gallery at 210 Walker St. in Kill Devil Hills. Viewings at his gallery are by appointment only.

And what is Melvin's favorite Suzanne Tate book?

``Spunky Spot,'' he says without hesitation. ``It has an anti-drug message, something's that's ongoing.''

And like Tate, Melvin has a built-in preview committee: his 8-year-old daughter, Shante.

``She'll look at my drawings and say, `You need a little more color, Dad,' '' Melvin said.

Melvin works incredibly fast, going from black and white pencil sketches to color in about 90 minutes when creating Tate's characters.

``He's wonderfully cooperative,'' Tate says. ``His illustrations just bring the characters alive.'' ILLUSTRATION: A James Melvin illustration from the newest book by

Suzanne Tate, "Oopsie Otter."

James Melvin illustrated the "Nature Series."