Geneviève Després

Geneviève Després is a Canadian illustrator living in Québec. She graduated in 1992 in Industrial Design at the university of Monteral, Geneviève decides to dedicate herself from 1998 to her forever passion: drawing. She concentrates on illustration and complets several projects. In 2003, she takes a professional break and gives birth to her second son in Paris. She decides then to focus exclusively on children’s illustration from her Eureopan retreat. Since her repatriation to Québec in 2007, Geneviève has signed more than 30 books, translated in more than 12 languages. She received several honors, nominations and awards in many competitions including the General Governor of Canada Award, the Elisabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award (IBBY). She now lives in the south-bank of Montreal and spends her Summers to get inspired by the sea in her family chalet in Escoumins on the High North-Coast, Quebec.

WHAT IS YOUR SOURCE OF INSPIRATION?

The infinite landscape, nature, animals.

WHAT'S THE MOST INCREDIBLE GIFT YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?

Friendship?

DO YOU WORK AT NIGHT OR DURING THE DAY?

By day.

WHO IS THE ARTIST YOU CRAVE FOR?

I cannot settle for only one… At the moment I am hooked on: Mark Janssen, Olivier Tallec, Felix Scheinberger, Raquel Catalina…

YOUR FAVORITE MUSEUM, YOUR FAVORITE DRINK?

Le Louvre / Margherita

IF I SAY « PAPER » WHAT IS THE FIRST THAT COMES TO YOUR MIND?

Watercolours.

MENTION A QUOTE YOU FEEL IS CREATIVELY INSPIRING

“Talent is the desire to do something”, from Jacques Brel. As for an everyday inspiration, I believe very much in the idiom “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”, which I apply as much in business than in my own private decisions.

IF YOU WEREN’T AN ARTIST, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?

A paramedic.

TOPICS AND CAUSES THAT MATTER TO YOU?

I am volunteering for the RQUMM – the Quebecois Emergency Network for Marine Mammals.

Geneviève DESPRÉS

AWARDS

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She received several honors, nominations and awards in many competitions including these last few years:

2019 Finalist Prix du Gouverneur General du Canada, Laurent, c’est moi!
2019 Finalist Prix Elizabeth Muraz-Cleaver, best Canadian Picture Book Award, Laurent, c’est moi!
2018 Finalist Prix 2017 Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award, Dépareillés.

Publishing houses: Editions d’Eux, Ricochet Jeunes, Editions de l’Isatis, Edition de la Bagnole, Editions Fonfon, Scholastic Canada, Mijade (Belgium) and clients Ministry of Education of Québec, Association of Public Librairies of Quebec and the city of Montreal.

Instagram @genevievedespres_illustration

Web www.genevievedespres.ca

Facebook @GenevieveDespresIllustration