Joanna Concejo is a children’s book illustrator whose work is published in France, Italy and Spain. She's originally from Poland, but currently lives in France where she spends her time drawing and bringing up her children. We admire her illustrations and asked her to tell us more about them.
Tell me a bit about yourself. Have you always wanted to be an illustrator?
No. I always had lots of ambitions but not necessarily to be an illustrator. However, the desire to tell stories through drawing was always there. The first book I illustrated was one I also wrote. It was published in Italy, under the title Il Signor Nessuno, or 'Mr.Nobody' in English.
What is the story about?
It’s about a man who lives in a neighborhood without much identity. There are many people in the town and yet nobody knows each other. People never greet one another in the street. Mr. Nobody pretty much goes unnoticed, but he has a very important job which he does by night. His job is to repair the stars. When there’s a star which is damaged or doesn’t shine properly, he gets a request to repair it or make a new one. He then sends it off anonymously in the morning post.
What a lovely story! Where do your inspirations come from?
My main influences have come from childhood. I was brought up in the countryside with a grandmother who told stories in such a marvelous way that I’ve always had the desire to make things up. I was also surrounded by women who worked with their hands, whether embroidery or knitting, and I had an aunt who loved drawing.
Do you miss the places of your past, the countryside and your native Poland?
Yes, definitely. Even though I’m still in Europe, France is a bit different to Poland. I miss it and sometimes I feel nostalgic for a past gone by which won’t come back. In my images I let those sentiments show through not by necessity, but because they come out like that. I don’t try to make them happy or funny.
Your characters do often seem sad or lost. There’s also an element of mystery to them that reminds me of the miniature objects and details you juxtapose with your larger drawings of the characters. Why do you do this?
It gives the image more possibilities, as though there’s another reality co-existing with the character. Of course, one must choose the main image but in miniature you can add lots more detail. You have this story about Mr.Nobody but next to it there are other stories and other lives happening at the same time.
At the beginning, I didn’t draw with these miniature ideas in mind. It was only after a time that I realized there were multiple stories and realities happening in one illustration. When there are little details, it takes longer to look at the image. You look closely and bring it closer.
I saw you also illustrate ceramics?
Yes, last year I illustrated ceramics with some designers who have a shop called La Maison de Pompon in Paris. They are having an exhibition this October at their shop. You can buy my work on their website.
For more of Joanna's illustrations, check out her blog. You can also buy her illustrated ceramics and napkins at La Maison de Pompon’s online shop.
