Tiny Treasury

It’s the Friday Fifteen! Today’s guest is illustrator Nathalie Dion.

1. Where are you now?
In my studio, which is at the top of the stairs; in a nest!

2. What were your favorite books as a kid?
Martine’s collection; “Martine à la plage” “Martine à la campagne”…. Topo Gigio.

3. What are you reading now?
The curious incident of the dog in the night-time, by Mark Haddon. I bought the book for my daughter but ended up being the first one to read it!

4. Do you have kids?
Yes, I have a 14 years old daughter.

5. What projects are you working on now?
I just finished “Winter babies wear layers”, the 4th of a series of board books. The first was “Urban babies wear black”. And this week I am working on a cover for a “crime-mystery” book which will be published at The Penguin Group, and illustrating for Modern Bride Magazine, Elle Québec and Style at Home.

6. What is your biggest writing or illustrating luxury?
to draw in my squarred paper sketch book (Moleskine) with everything but the right brush, color or pen!

7. Coffee or tea?
Both.. When I have too much coffee I switch to tea and when I am too bored with tea I go back to coffee..

8. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
RadioHead, Nirvana, Kate Bush, Beck, Siouxsie and the Banshees.

9. What would I be surprised to know about you?
I guess considering my illustrations are quite “clean�? , i would think one would be surprised that I love to draw on “wrong�? paper with “wrong�? tools (gives dirty results that I enjoy!)

10. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
College Saint-Laurent (Fine Arts)

11. If you weren’t working with kids’ books, what would your dream job be?
A 20 pages advertorial or editorial in Vogue.

12. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
Nothing right now… (I don’t have cable…)

13. How did you get your “big break” into the field?
After a 10 years struggle… My first client was a children’s clothing designer who hired me to illustrate her catalogues. Then I developed a more “fashion” oriented style and was hired by ELLE Québec for my first editorial job. Then Anna Goodson saw what I did for ELLE and offered to represent me… And “boom”! there was THE big break…

14. Which celeb would you want most to meet?
Woody Allen (before Soon-Yi…)

15. Who is the best book character EVER?
Charlie Brown?

Thanks, Nathalie!

And don’t forget to check out Nathalie’s newest book, The Secret Identity of Devon Delaney: