Never forget to enjoy drawing; let yourself be guided by your inspiration and desire,’ Quentin Gréban, illustrator and artist, tells us. It is clear he lives by these words. Over the past few years, he has produced illustrations for a variety of French children’s books, including Maman, Amoureux, Quand je serai grand…, capturing the essence of childhood through his nostalgic, playful drawings, which deal with anything from motherhood to daydreaming dogs. In this exclusive interview, we catch up with him to see how he came to be where he is today…

1. How did you start your career

I made my first book right after my studies with Mijade Publishing, my current main editor. I sent 30 files. Only 15 publishers responded. Only one said YES!

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Then we did a second one, etc.

I was selected for the Bologna annual in 1999 and 2000, after which other foreign publishers contacted me. But it is with Mijade editions that I have done most of my books

2. How do you choose your projects?

I always choose my projects on inspiration, depending on who will allow me to do the designs that inspire me the most. They are the ones I have the most fun doing (underwater? In the air? Dear a witch? …).

3. Your books often concern the theme of love. What does this mean to you?

It is, above all, the theme of adventure that is present in the books. And, indeed, the theme of love. Simply because feelings and emotions are the most interesting to draw! Pain, love, anger, fear … the whole picture changes depending on these emotions. Its composition, its range of colors.

Pain, love, anger, fear … the whole picture changes depending on these emotions.

4. Who inspires you?

Rebecca Dautremer, Édouard Manet, Regis Loisel, Cartier Bresson…

5. What advice would you give to artists / illustrators?

Never forget to enjoy drawing; let yourself be guided by your inspiration and desire.

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In an uninspiring project, find a point of interest, even when it is not obvious at first.

One way to do this is to see the book to be illustrated (32 drawings) as a box of chocolates: we take the one we prefer first and so on and at the end we have eaten everything. The same goes for the illustrations to be produced.

6. What are your future plans?

Shhhhhh… it’s a secret! 😉

This interview was not paid. All images come from Quentin Gréban’s Instagram: @quentingreban