I’m Melody Hansen, a Swiss visual artist and designer living in Los Angeles. Over the years, I’ve shared my drawings, my thoughts, and my writing on the internet, and find joy in the process. I also run a creative studio with my sister, Jumelles Studio.

What is PRETEND IT EXISTS?

PRETEND IT EXISTS is the world inside my mind, an extension of Because, Honestly, another room in the house. It is my love for art, imagination, surrealism, movies and documentaries, pop culture, and the human condition. A room for me to explore the beauty and weirdness of being alive, while sharing with you my personal worldly observations and thoughts. I’m fascinated by how much of who we are is driven by hope, make believe, and creativity—3 concepts we cannot see and yet move us and connect us deeply.

This is also a chance for me to live out my Carrie Bradshaw “I’m a writer” fantasy.

Free subscribers

As a free subscriber, you’ll receive my thought essays and Sunday’s column SUNDAY NOTES, which includes a collection of sketchbook drawings, writings, and something that inspires me.

Paid subscribers

As a paid subscriber, you’ll have access to all columns including my thought essays, SUNDAY NOTES, Afternoon Tea, and Once upon a time.

Afternoon Tea is a column for insight on creativity and staying inspired, on world building and nurturing your inner world, with artist resources and occasional interviews.

Once upon a time explores the world of fairy tales. I’ll be reading through different children’s books and classic tales for the first time and share my thoughts. I’ll also share new drawings and personal interpretations of the stories.

Paid subscribers also have access to exclusive conversations in the chat, the full archive, and resources I’ve personally created.