Cleìmence Guillemaud - Painting Brings Me A Lot Of Comfort & It Is This Comfort That Emerges From My Paintings (Illustrator, France)

I started to share my illustrations on social networks and after a year I opened my own business: it allowed me to open an online store to sell reproductions of my illustrations, but also to respond to client projects, mainly in the field of children's publishing.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I did university studies in the artistic world: applied art, Fine-arts but also art history and I graduated in cultural mediation (helping people to discover and understand an artistic work). After my studies I started to share my illustrations on social networks and after a year I opened my own business: it allowed me to open an online store to sell reproductions of my illustrations, but also to respond to client projects, mainly in the field of children's publishing.

2. What inspired you to pursue art?

Like many artists, I paint and draw since I was very young, and even if during the last years of my studies, I turned away from the practice, my desire to create returned very quickly: After my diploma, I realized that I no longer wanted to explain the artworks, but to create them. It almost became an obsession and I wanted to deliver my own messages, my own feelings through my paintings.

3. What impact do you want to create through your art? 

I always try to convey positive feelings through my illustrations: softness, poetry and above all a feeling of escapism. Painting brings me a lot of comfort and it is this comfort that emerges from my paintings. I try and bring some calm and peace to the people watching them.

4. How would you describe your art style?

I would describe my art style by the word "traditional" because I work almost exclusively with watercolors although I sometimes do digital illustrations. I would also say it is colorful, it comes back to childhood and it is very inspired by fantastic literature, tales and legends of the world.

5. How do you keep yourself motivated?

I have no secrets for staying motivated. I am fortunate to be able to do what I love and that is the most important. Of course, when we are a self-employed person there are tasks that we do not like, but they are essential to do our job, and we must keep that in mind. If I feel any decrease in motivation, it will be caused by tiredness, so if I can afford it, I listen to my body and I rest. If I can't because of a lack of time, I keep my end goal in mind and tell myself that all my work will be worth it!

6. Who do you admire as an artist and why? 

I won't be able to say which artists I admire the most because there are a lot of them, but I always name two in particular. Beatrice Blue, Spanish illustrator and author, whom I admire for her whole world. Her illustrations are adorable and her books are wonderful. And Heikala, who constantly impresses me with her technique and from whom I adore the universe as well.

7. What tips and advice would you give to aspiring artists?

For aspiring artists, I will advise them to practice every day. At least drawing if they don’t have the time to paint. Filling out pages and pages with sketches allows you to find your style and gain technique quite quickly. I will also advise them to take interest in what is being done, to discover new artists even if they have a very different style from theirs. It's important to be open-minded about a lot of things to always be inspired.

- Cleìmence Guillemaud

- Interviewed By Prashansa Maurya