Anne Isabelle illustrated “The Shrink’s Guide to Shopping” for Prima Magazine. December issue.
Anne Isabelle illustrated a new article for American Way about men and Yoga : ”No Man’s Land”. December issue.
Anne Isabelle illustrated an article for Coup de Pouce Magazine. “Pourquoi donnez-vous des cadeaux?”. December issue.
Anne Isabelle illustrated a new article for Automobile Magazine : “Drive for equality”. Saudi women take the wheel to oppose gender discrimination. October issue.
Anne Isabelle illustrated a new article for Park Place Magazine. “17 signs You’re a Grownup”. September issue.
Anne Isabelle illustrated an article for Best Health Magazine “Does birth order matter?”. Summer 2011.
Anne Isabelle illustrated an article for Coup de Pouce “Êtes-vous la PDG de la maison?”. July issue.
Anne Isabelle illustrated an article for The Wall Street Journal. The subject was “What to wear to your big college or high-school reunion? ”
How and when did you know that you wanted to become illustrators?
We had absolutely no idea that we would become illustrators when we first met at Arts School. We started out doing design, and we completed a common diploma on a “double” theme. We experimented working with four hands and loved it, so we took a studio together and continued the experience in many different directions.
One day, an editor propose for us to illustrate a (very local) book, the experience was so enjoyable that we decided to go ahead and become illustrators. Now, illustration has become our principal activity – and the most fun.
The funny thing is that at school we did all the workshops, we tried all the techniques… except for illustration.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
From looking at people and from the street. We love to talk and discuss projects together. We prefer to do this in a café watching people pass by, observing the infinity of expressions and looks, appearances and styles.
What type of environment do you prefer to work in? At home or in a studio? Listening to music?
It depends on the work we have to do. We prefer to work at home when we have to create images, but we really loved being in the studio directing animation projects. It is nice to meet the people you work with.
Our environment has changed a lot during the last few years. At the beginning we shared a studio in Strasbourg, a big, old, wonderful apartment, a peaceful bubble! Next, we went to Paris to work for two cartoon companies, involving teamwork with many people all the time. We used the Parisian cafés a lot to talk about our work. Later on, we worked in a studio, under the roof on the seventh floor of a beautiful Parisian building, with less space but a great view!
At present we prefer to work at home because we have both had children in the past couple of years. Luckily we have skype to keep in touch and stay close.
As working illustrators, do you still find time to create art for yourselves?
Yes, it is very important for us to keep time aside to create something else. And it is very important to create individually, or with someone else. We try and do it in the evenings and sometimes into the night, because we don’t have enough time to do everything we want.
What type of transition needs to be made between creating art for yourselves and creating art that is commissioned?
A technical transition. Our commissioned art is produced on our Macs. When we create for ourselves we often need to leave our computers behind and work by hand, with ink, brush and pencil.
When you are creating commissioned work, how do you take yourselves out of the project and focus on the idea that needs to be conveyed?
We have no problem with that. On the contrary, we like to be confronted with another personality. We work within a duo, and we have often worked in a team. If the graphic style is strong, the Ego has no need to be nervous… C’est ludique.
What accomplishments so far in your lives stand out as most important?
AC – The birth of my twins Liv et Aliocha.
I – The birth of my son, Robinson.
How do you deal with negative criticism?
If the criticism is negative but not violent it is often very constructive and it can make things move forward.
Working as a duo, we use the critical eye a lot on one another and accept what is said. We don’t really like it when the criticism is a matter of “taste” because as illustrators we propose a particular sense of “taste” through our images. But we can accept any other criticism.
What is your favorite way to get out of a creative block?
To talk with good friends, drinking coffee and creating new projects.
Is there any one publication that you still have aspirations to see yourselves in?
Elle, Glamour, Vanity Fair and, of course, we would love to see ourselves in the New Yorker, but we don’t have the style to match.
What magazines do you personally read?
Le Nouvel Observateur, Elle, Elle Déco, Liberation.
What are your goals for the future as illustrators?
We want to be illustrators until we’re 110 years old and never retire. So we want to be constantly renewed in order to last.
Anne Isabelle’s page with more video clips: anneisabellevideo.wordpress.com
All images Copyright © 1996-2012 Anna Goodson Management and/or the respective artist, all rights reserved