Windows into Illustration: Rébecca Dautremer

Rébecca Dautremer is a celebrated French illustrator and author. She graduated from the Arts Décoratifs School in Paris and went on to illustrate several bestselling picture books, including L’Amoureux which won the Prix Sorcières. In 2016 she found a new publishing home with Editions Sarbacane where she was able to express her creativity and unique personal style through her own stories.

I am so delighted that my book is finally publishing in the English language for the UK, US and ANZ markets. Jacominus made his debut in France in 2018, and the book has sold strongly there and around the world. It has been published in 19 languages – and I am so proud that the 20th will be in English.

Jacominus is a fluffy white rabbit who enjoys the simple pleasures and beauty of things. From childhood through to old age, Jacominus is fortunate to be surrounded by family and friends. He may not be the biggest or strongest, but he grows, learns, faces moments of sadness and also finds great joy.

I started by thinking I could make a book about life. I wanted it to explore what life is, the beginning of life, the end of life, meeting people, knowing things, sharing good and bad moments. And because I wanted my book to be welcoming for children, even if I was exploring serious or sad subjects, I decided to create a world where all the characters have different animal heads but live a life with human characteristics.

The book has 12 detailed scenes which reflect the changing seasons and major milestones in Jacominus’ life; and ten portraits of our hero at different ages.

I paint traditionally, so the illustrations are all hand-painted and take many hours . I work on the composition and light based on research sketches:

Then I create a detailed pencil drawing:

And sometimes a digital colour sketch:

The colouring is done with brushes and gouache on watercolour paper. This technique uses the light from the white of the paper. It is not possible to redo it. It is therefore important to design the final image well before execution.

This scene is the first one in the book where we are introduced to Jacominus Gainsborough and his family. I don’t like to draw modern things, I prefer to draw old things like old boots and clothes, because they are more pleasant to draw and paint. I prefer to step back to the beginning of the 20th century, in a kind of steampunk way. It’s an alternative version of the past.

I hope you enjoy meeting Jacominus Gainsborough – think of this book as an album of a life well lived, a life worth celebrating.

The Ordinary Life of Jacominus Gainsborough by Rébecca Dautremer is published by Post Wave Children’s Books, 9781836270171, £16.99 hbk.