Illustrator Spotlight: Vincent Bergier

© Vincent Bergier

July 26, 2019

We are pleased to feature illustrator Vincent Bergier and his new book, NEW YORK: DAY AND NIGHT, by Aurelie Pollet (Prestel Junior March 2019). Enter to win a copy!



Tell us about your background and how you came to illustrate for children.

I always drew and never stopped drawing. I studied art in the university and then started to illustrate books for children.


Congratulations on your recent book, NEW YORK: DAY AND NIGHT. Tell us about its unique construction and how you did the illustrations.


Thank you! I had the idea with the author, Aurélie Bollet. We went to New York and I made a lot of sketches there. A lot of the characters in the book are real people of New York.



© Vincent Bergier
© Vincent Bergier

At first, we wanted to express the idea that usually people are afraid of things they shouldn't be afraid of. Comparing the night and day seemed to be a good metaphor for this idea. The darkness of ignorance as opposed to the lightness of knowledge.

The way the book is made is that colorful illustrations are superimposed with translucent blue paper. You first see the night scene and then when the blue paper is lifted, you see a different day scene. It was useful to draw with a graphique tablet to be precise enough to superimpose the two pictures properly.



© Vincent Bergier
© Vincent Bergier


You have a very graphic style. Who or what are your artistic influences?


I was very interested by the work of Phillipe Dupuis, Charles Berberian, and Blex Bolex too. Now I don't think I have influences anymore. I try to do my own work, with simple ideas, such as minimalism and energy.



© Vincent Bergier


What projects are your working on now?

I'm working on comics for a comic book called TOPO. It's a documentary about Native Americans. The author is Géraldine Ruiz, who is a journalist. We already made a story about Black Lives Matter for the same magazine.



© Vincent Bergier

What advice would you give to aspiring illustrators?

Work a lot and consider that having fun is more important that drawing well.



© Vincent Bergier


What is something most people don't know about you?


Maybe that I'm a musician too. I have a band called The Box. You can listen here: https://theboxboxbox.bandcamp.com. You can also see a video here: https://vimeo.com/152986732.



© Vincent Bergier


Where can people find you online?

https://www.vincentbergier.com



VINCENT BERGIER is a French illustrator and musician. He lives in Paris, France.




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Comments

  1. I especially like the surreal scene at the top of the post!

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  2. These are great illustrations & would be fun to have hanging on the wall.

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  3. Really like the illustrations.

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  4. Fascinating juxtaposition of day and night. Great concept!

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  5. I enjoy these illustrations and the style. I'm headed to listen to your band as I'm a musician too.

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  6. I love that bold color-saturated style and I'd love to have a copy of the book. Thanks

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  7. What a great concept! Love the comparisons. Congratulations!

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  8. The illustrations are so unique. I really like the idea of a metaphor for fears that may be unfounded.

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  9. What a beautiful cover for a picture book.

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