Describe your illustration style in ten words or less.
Whimsical, dreamy, poetic, delicate, timeless, charming, ethereal.
What items are an essential part of your creative space?
My window is essential. It's open in every sense of the word. Open to let light pour in, open to the world outside. My books are also necessary. Art books and picture books from all over the world, always within reach to get inspiration. Then there are all the tools of my creative process: paper, brushes, paints, a scanner, my tablet, and an iPad for listening to audiobooks during the colouring phase. And of course, a mug for the hundreds of tea breaks I need throughout the day.
Do you have a favourite artistic medium?
Watercolour captivates me with its luminous, translucent hues. The texture that emerges when painting on paper forms the heart of my process.After scanning these originals, I continue working digitally on my tablet, blending traditional and digital methods to create striking effects that still honour watercolour's organic warmth.
Name three artists whose work inspires you.
My sources of inspiration shift constantly as my work evolves. Each picture book sends me searching for something different. That said, I'm consistently drawn to Jane Ray for her abundant, vibrant colours and dreamlike, poetic sensibility. Rebecca Dautremer's rich and imaginative style always draws me in. I also love how spontaneous and poetic Anne Herbault's illustrations feel, and how Julie Vivas creates characters that are so tender yet bursting with life. I could mention so many more… but I'm trying to follow instructions for once.
Which artistic period would you most like to visit and why?
The entire Renaissance, without hesitation. Time-traveling through such a cultural and artistic revolution, I would love to be immersed in the streets of Venice, Siena, or Florence during the age of the great masters, to wander through the lanes and step into Leonardo da Vinci's or Michelangelo's workshop, watching them work and teach their apprentices. To enter one of those churches and see Fra Angelico painting his frescoes. Then to travel north to the workshop of the Flemish master Jan van Eyck and discover the secrets of oil painting techniques.
I would also like to travel to the future to see that passionate, genuine artists will always preserve the irreplaceable spark of human creativity for future generations, no matter how advanced artificial intelligence becomes.
Who or what inspired you to become an illustrator?
Since I was very young, I've always been deeply sensitive to all forms of art. I grew up immersed in a world where art was essential. Later, it was Rebecca Dautremer’s amazing work that truly inspired me and made me realize how fascinating illustrating picture books could be. I love her style and the way she interprets a text.
Can you share a photo of your creative work space or part of the area where you work most often? Talk us through it.
When I begin a new project, it always starts at my desk facing the window, working on large sheets of paper. Nature finds its way into my studio, and its beauty pushes me toward inspiration. Each illustration is then scanned, and the project moves to my tablet to be completed. With it, I refine shapes and colours, create backgrounds, adjust opacity and textures, build atmospheres. I revise compositions, add elements, adjust the size of some objects. Behind me are my books and all the names of those who never cease to inspire me.
What is your favourite part of the illustration process?
That very moment when I receive a manuscript and must imagine how to support and complement the text. I love searching for the best ideas, and starting to develop the storyboard. It feels like there are no limits to my imagination. At the beginning, everything seems possible. It's like standing before countless unexplored worlds where the possibilities are endless.
What advice would you give to an aspiring illustrator?
Always keep learning and be open to art from all over the world. Exposure to different artistic traditions and perspectives enriches our visual vocabulary immensely.
Hélène Magisson is an award-winning Australian illustrator whose whimsical, dreamy watercolours bring stories to life in children's books. A former painting restorer in Paris, trained in medieval illumination, she blends traditional and digital techniques to create timeless illustrations. Her work is frequently recognised by the Children’s Book Council of Australia.
For more information, please visit Hélène's website or follow her on instagram.
