CH.89: If you were to categorize or describe the style of your artwork, what would it be and why?
JB: My style is naive, funny, colorful and childish.
CH.89: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
JB: Everywhere. When I see friends or encounter new people, I listen to their stories. I also like to laugh and sometimes funny situations inspire me to imagine a character or a scene. Also, memories and books of my childhood, travels in countries far far away. When I was a child, my parents traveled a lot in Asia. I remember for example one thing when I was in Bangkok, a detail in a crowded flea market. A little seashell was sparkling. For me it transformed into a entity full of bright colors. This shell, I never forgot! When I work with colors, I think of this little shell sometimes.
CH.89: Can you talk a little bit about what your creative thought process is like when starting a new project/piece of artwork?
JB: Generally, each time I get a request. I read several times the brief. During this study, pictures begin to appear in my mind, colors, characters. All kinds of images come into my mind while I brainstorm. I then take the most important elements from that. For a personal project it’s a similar process. Every time; however, I take my felt or my color pencil to feel the material on paper.
CH.89: Is there anything in particular that you would want people to take from your artwork?
JB: I don’t have a particular message in my work but I love to imagine that my characters have their own life and stories. I’m happy when people say to me, “His expression is great, this situation is fun, he reminds me of someone!”.
CH.89: Can you talk a little bit about your lifestyle as an artist and what that is like?
JB: My lifestyle is very simple. I trust my intuition every time. I often say, “We only have one life”. I love challenges. It’s important for me to create in my atelier and also to see friends, discover new people, new places, live full of things. When you decided to be illustrator, you must to be open minded, curious about people and things. Your art is your view of the world.
CH.89: When starting out an artistic task, do you think it is better to have a particular direction/ set plan guiding your way? Or, is it better to act on impulse and go from there?
JB: I have a certain idea of the project’s nature just before I create. For me, to define my project is important to allow room for creativity. Sometimes, both are really connected. It’s always a round trip.
CH.89: What is one major lesson you’ve learned as an artist thus far?
JB: Trust your own sensibility and personal point of view. We all have something different in us.
CH.89: Do you regard personal style and taste to be of highest importance?
JB: Yes, we build and regard personal style since childhood, and it evolves every time.
JB: Also, tendencies, fashion is important to be included in our personal regard. I see many things : books, animated movies or just movies, exhibitions. All of this inspires me.
CH.89: What do you consider to be the hardest thing about being an artist?
JB: For me, it’s important to not consider that being an artist can be hard. I accept challenges, always. Life is a challenge and that’s why it’s interesting!
CH.89: What is one thing you love about being an artist?
JB: When I’m surprised of something I never made before.
CH.89: Is there anyone in particular, any artist’s that inspire you in anyway?
JB: Many. I love the work of Kitty Crowther for children books. I love the paintings of Michael Sowa for their absurd humor.
CH.89: What do you think of technology in terms of being a useful tool for artists today?
JB: It’s great! We can share our art with other illustrators from around the word. It’s necessary to be able to showcase our own work and develop news contacts with other people.
CH.89: Do you think being an artist allows you to view the world differently from those who don’t follow creative paths?
JB: No. Ah ah artists for me are not a kind of ovni. Yes they take an atypical way but they are not more different than other people.
CH.89: Do you enjoy traveling? If so, do you have a favorite city?
JB: Yes, I love traveling far away and also very close. I love a little town Dieulefit, a nice village in France where I use to spend my summers as a child. It’s got soul, and a charm that I cannot define.
CH.89: Do you have a favourite author or book?
JB: I have a lot of books that I like. I love The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett for example. I love unusual stories that reveal something beautiful in human beings.
CH.89: Any future goals or plans for your artwork?
JB: I’m writing and drawing a children story. I’m also working on some personal orders, an alphabet for a kids room, a birth announcement, and some personal posters as well.
CH.89: What does being an artist mean to you?
JB: To share ones art with people is to reveal something beautiful, amazing, fun, and astonishing in this word.
CH.89: What’s the last song you listened to?
JB: I’m listening to Gershwin Rhapsody in blue. I like the different musical variation in this piece. I cannot define the style, if it’s jazz, classical or other styles. This piece is unique with its unique style.
CH.89: Any last words on the aesthetic of your artwork?
JB: To infinity and beyond!
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