Say hello to our cover artist, amélie fontaine

Who are you and what do you do? I’m a French illustrator, living and working in Paris. I make children’s books, draw for newspapers, and when I have time left, I focus on my personal work. I also practise etching and ceramics. What’s your artistic medium of choice? My favourite medium is drawing because of its immediacy. I like the simple feeling of the pen on the paper, and the possibility to draw anywhere. Sketching outside is really important to me, as when I’m working,

I’m like a naturalist – I observe and identify things. This documentation is the first step that allows me to drift towards imagination. Tell us the story behind this artwork. I started a series of drawings with animals and people, but with strange relationships. For instance, a woman with a tiger, but we don’t know if they’re dancing or if he’s attacking and devouring her – as if animals were revolting against their role as domestic pets. But this one with the cheetah is more kind and gentle, like a guardian. Have you always been an arty type? As far as I remember, I’ve always drawn, especially with my brother. We used to draw big battles with knights and blood splashing and cut legs everywhere, before trying something calmer: starting a newspaper. We had to reproduce each one with felt pens in order to get several copies; it was exhausting. What would we find you doing when you’re not making art? I love going to exhibitions and concerts when I’m in Paris; walking in the countryside when I’m somewhere else; reading books and trying to pass my driving theory test.