Interview with Julie Mellan

Hey Guys!

Today's post is an interview with Julie Mellan!
Julie Mellan is a renowned Illustrator based in Lyon, France who specializes in animal illustrations for children.

Julie Mellan

 It might seem stupid but: work ! Drawing skills don't appear from nowhere ! Practice, practice ! 

I am super thrilled about todays post as I absolutely love Julie's work!

Hi Julie! I spotted your work first on Instagram and I absolutely adore your art. Tell us something more about yourself...are you professionally an artist or is this your hobby? 

Hi ! Thank you for your interest ! Yes, I'm a professional illustrator, I mostly work for children books.

I love the expressions captured in this picture!

Since when have you been into art and how did you learn it? 

As every kid (I guess !) I drew with pencils and markers; and after high school, I entered a french art school named Ecole Emile Cohl.

Isn't this just adorable! Super fun expressions!

Are you more into hand drawings/paintings or digital? 

Traditional art ! I paint with watercolor.

What tools do you use for churning out such fabulous cartoons? Readers who are starting off in art will definitely want to know. 

I use watercolor. With this medium, the paper's quality is really important, perhaps the most important ! I work on Arches paper, l love it ! 

Any art tips you want to give to my readers? 

It might seem stupid but: work ! Drawing skills don't appear from nowhere ! Practice, practice ! And draw what you like, if you love dogs, draw plenty of dogs. You'll have fun, and your work will really be the reflection of your personality !

You draw animal art mostly from what I have seen. Is that your favourite style? 

Yes, when I was a child, I started drawing with Disney characters, and now, I still love animals, its fun to draw, and cute !

This is my personal favourite. Worthy of being framed and hung in the living room!

Can you give information of any books or published work that you have done? 

I mostly work with a french publisher named Lire c'est Partir and they have published about 10 books that I have illustrated.

Who are your favorite artists who have inspired you? 

Disney animators, like Glen Keane (and his daughter Claire Keane !), or Chris Sanders, or classic illustrators like Mary Blair, Beatrix Potter, Ernest Howard Shepard, Richard Scarry, Annette Marnat... and many others I forgot...

Do you have any favorite art blogs? 

I don't really follow blogs, but Instagram profiles instead. I love the works of Aida Zamora, Cory Loftis, Ira Sluyterman Van Langeweyde, Diana Pedott, Taryn Knight, Tom Booth, Genevieve Godbout... and once again, many others I forgot... :)

In awe with the detailing on this one!

It was wonderful talking to you Julie. Thank you for gracing my blog!

Julie Mellan's portfolio here: http://juliemellan.ultra-book.com
And Instagram profile here: https://www.instagram.com/juliedessine/