Illustrator Spotlight: Audrey Suau

 

© Audrey Suau

May 1, 2022

We are excited to feature illustrator Audrey Suau and her website banner design for May!

© Audrey Suau

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

I’ve always loved to draw. As a girl already, you could have found me walking whilst reading or simply drawing. In school, I always drew or doodled in class. 

© Audrey Suau

Deep down I always felt like I wanted to be an artist, but I was told that it was not a proper job and that I couldn’t make a living out of it. So I first became an interior architect. But after graduating, I didn’t draw anymore for fun and I missed that part. Thanks to my studies I learned how to play with the light, shades and colours. I had to wait more than 10 years to find my true calling: illustrating. Before I knew exactly how to get there, I started drawing a lot again and that is how my second life started! 

 

Congrats on your banner design for Kidlit411! Tell us about how you approached this project.

Thanks! When I read about the theme “what you believe Kidlit411 is about” I immediately thought about what picture books are for kids and I thought about a classroom, because that is where children spend the most of their time, where they learned how to like and share books with their friends, not only with their parents. I wanted to show that Kidlit is for all kind of kids and of all personalities. I often wish I were a little mouse to discreetly see what happens in a classroom…

 

You do a variety of art, from children's illustration to editorial work and design. Do these different types of art and design influence each other? Do you have a favorite?

© Audrey Suau

I don’t have the same work process whether I work on editorial work or on a picture book, but I think the different types of art influence each other. I use a lot of flowers and think a lot about the colours or shapes for some of my work. 

I tend to include the same palettes of colours and some flowers when I draw for children. Working on editorial work is quicker than working for a PB, but almost all of my illustrations tell a story like in a picture book would do. I love illustrating picture books. But I am glad I have other projects at the same time. I like to work on different projects; there are so much different areas I like that I’m glad I don’t have to choose. I also enjoy working on projects which require a different pace. Editorials are often fun little projects which are quick to do, Picture books are longer to achieve and require more research and preparation… 

© Audrey Suau

 

What projects are you working on now?

I’ve got a few projects going on at the moment. I’m working for a children magazine and I have also just started an exhibition in an artist’s shop which will run until September 2022. I’m also working on a children's picture book which I am very excited about. I will share more about it later on social media (as soon as I am allowed to). I love the concept of this book, it is a very fun project!  

What advice would you give to aspiring illustrators?

My advice would be to “hang on,” read a lot of books for children, draw a lot, draw everyday if you can and draw what you like, and have fun!

© Audrey Suau

It can sometimes be frustrating to have to build your portfolio and be told that it is great but that you should add more unicorns, or more of something. Something will always be missing, so draw what you like. Your joy will shine through it and people want to see joy. 

 

What is one thing most people don't know about you?

When I was an interior architect, the first project I worked on was a famous Palace in Marrakech called la Mamounia. I designed rooms with amazing materials and fabulous details. I spent a lot of time there, this place (and the whole country!) was very inspiring, with a magical side like in “the tales of a thousand and one nights” - These are tales that I would very much like to illustrate!

© Audrey Suau

 

Where can people find you online?

You can find most of my work on Instagram and on my website. I’m also on twitter, facebook and LinkedIn. 

 

Audrey Suau is a French illustrator. She draws for every child, but also for grown-ups who still have an inner child!! She works for various children magazines and children’s publishing houses and also collaborates with brands. Her three children are a great source of inspiration for her creations and you can sometimes recognize a bit of them in her illustrations. She likes to draw funny and fierce kids, cute animals, but also feminine figures, birds and flowers. She cares for feminism and environment. She mainly works digitally. Her illustrations are colourful, full of life and whimsical. When she is not drawing, she is writing her own stories.