Laurent Moreau is a French author and illustrator. His work is a combination of personal projects and commissions. His books are translated and published in many different languages.
ANYTHING ADULTS TOLD YOU TO AVOID THAT’S ACTUALLY A BIG PART OF YOUR LIFE NOW?
Definitely drawing and daydreaming. I was quite the dreamer as a child, and I would start drawing whenever I got the chance. With the work I do today, it’s part of my daily life!
ANY PERSON WHO REALLY HELPED YOU IN YOUR AWESOME ARTISTIC JOURNEY?
My best friend in high school who always encouraged and supported me. With him, I discovered the joy of expressing my creativity freely, without feeling self-conscious.
WHEN YOU GET A NEW PROJECT FROM BLUE Q, HOW DO YOU BEGIN? WHAT’S THE STARTING POINT?
It’s always tons of fun working with Blue Q; they have a caring and kind approach that I really like. They’re a delight to work with, and the projects they come to me with are always such a refreshing change from my everyday editorial or publishing illustrating work. I start off trying to capture what they’re looking for, and spotting where I have some creative legroom. And then I explore my ideas with lots of pencil drawings.
WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST ART INSPIRATION? THIS MAY NOT BE VISUAL. LIKE, ANYTHING
You wouldn’t know it when you look at my work, but the artistic environment that’s always boosted me most was skateboarding. I grew up with a skateboard, and skateboarding is such a creative environment because it touches graphism, music, clothing, photo and video.… One of my long-lasting dreams has always been to design visuals for skateboards.
HOW DOES CREATIVITY RUN IN YOUR FAMILY, EVEN IF IT’S NOT DESIGN-RELATED?
The love of my life is also an author and illustrator, and we live in a very artistic environment. We have tons of illustrated books at home. Our daughters are big readers and they both love to draw, even though we don’t push them to do it.
