UNDISCOVERED VOICES INTERVIEWS Laure Allain


This year's Undiscovered Voices is full of outstanding new illustration talent. Laure Allain worked on Kenneth Graham's classic tale The Wind in the Willows.

Tell us about yourself in 50 words or less

I’m an illustrator and graphic designer. I also write and I work part-time as a communication officer for a non-profit organisation. I have a master’s degree in graphic storytelling and another one in linguistics & literature. I live in Brussels with my boyfriend, toddler and parakeet.

Laure Allain

Who or what do you think informs your illustration the most?

Plants, animals, books, and people. I love to watch people, especially children.

What materials do you enjoy using the most?

That’s a difficult question because there are so many materials I love working with. I’m a bit of a hoarder when it comes to art supplies. My favourite is probably the old fashioned dip pen, brushes & ink combo but I’m also madly in love with my drawing tablet.


Why did you choose the scene you illustrated for UV2018?

I love drawing animals and I love The Wind in the Willows. That book is mindfulness avant la lettre (except for Mr.Toad’s behaviour)! There was a picnic involved in this particular scene which gave me an excuse to draw a summer pudding & beautiful scenery. I drew several scenes but in the end I chose this one because this was the place where I wanted to be.

If there was one thing that stood out the most about being a part of UV2018, what would it be?

Again, it’s hard to pick just one thing. The group of illustrators and writers certainly stood out, everyone was so kind and willing to share! We still keep in touch. And the party obviously, the guest list and the venue were impressive. Last but not least, Frances Hardinge’s speech at the party. I met her briefly at the Bologna illustrator’s wall a month later and told her I’d felt like a unicorn ever since that speech.

What has been the most valuable part of UV2018 for you?

I gained an insight into how the publishing world in the UK works.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Laure's website is laureallain.com
Email her here
Also follow Laure on instagramlinkedin,  twitter and facebook.


––––––––––––––– § –––––––––––––––


You can download the Undiscovered Voices 2018 anthology here.




Undiscovered Voices is an anthology published every other year by the British SCBWI and aims to help fresh, new voices in children’s literature – both writers and illustrators – find agents, publishers and ultimately readers. Undiscovered Voices has launched the careers of writers and illustrators, who have gone on to publish more than 200 books. These authors have been nominated for and won an amazing array of literary prizes: including the Carnegie Medal, Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize, Branford Boase Award, Blue Peter Award, the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, and nearly 30 regional awards. Visit www.undiscoveredvoices.com for all the details and news when submissions will open for the next anthology.
 








No comments:

We love comments and really appreciate the time it takes to leave one.
Interesting and pithy reactions to a post are brilliant but we also LOVE it when people just say they've read and enjoyed.
We've made it easy to comment by losing the 'are you human?' test, which means we get a lot of spam. Fortunately, Blogger recognises these, so most, if not all, anonymous comments are deleted without reading.

Words & Pictures is the Online Magazine of SCBWI British Isles. Powered by Blogger.