Rébecca Dautremer: Work. Produce. Work.
Rébecca Dautremer’s reading list
15 books mentioned in this interview
- Old French Fairy Tales · Sophie Countess of Segur
- Storia di Tönle · Mario Rigoni Stern
- Wonderment: The Lisbeth Zwerger Collection · Lisbeth Zwerger
- Le Dahlia Noir · James Elroy
- Je, Francois Villon from Jean Teulé
- Ermites Dans La Taïga · Vassili Peskov
- Belle Du Seigneur · Albert Cohen
- La Tendresse Des Pierres · Marion Fayolle
- Vernon Subutex from Virginie Despentes
- Camille Claudel · Anne d’Elbée
- The Little Friend · Donna Tartt
- Salambo · Gustave Flaubert
- Madame Bovary · Gustave FlaubertRecommended 4 times
- Blonde from Joyce Carol Oates
- The Paperboy · Pete Dexter
Books by Rébecca Dautremer: L’Amoureux
Rébecca Dautremer is a talented illustrator and graphic editor who was born in the South of France in 1971. Rébecca Dautremer studied in the ENSAD of Pais and earned a degree in graphic edition in 1995. Shortly after this, she became a graphic editor and illustrator. These days Rébecca Dautremer is writing books of her own; they are picture books with poetic themes. She says that her work is inspired by fairy tales which she creates with warm colours and precise drawings. Her work is wildly successful with children, with one of her more famous works L’Amoureux, a story she penned herself, having been adapted for the stage and actually performed by children. I really enjoy her work and was excited to speak with the French illustrator. Please enjoy my interview with Rébecca Dautremer…
When someone asks you ‘what do you do for a living?’ – How do you respond?
I draw and paint.
What are you reading at the moment?
When you think about your childhood, what book comes to mind?
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I didn’t really think about the future when I was young, I probably planned to be like my mother: a traditional mother at home with the children.
Did you demonstrate an affinity with art as a child?
Definitively and deeply: with all of my drawings!
What do you think your school aged self would think of the present day you?
I would think that I am lucky and that I have obtained a lot without having to suffer too much.
If you could wrap up a single book and gift it to yourself as you left education – which book would it be?
I would gift myself a 24 volume Dictionary, which I suppose doesn’t really count as a ‘single’ book!
Does your reading have routine? Is there a particular time or place that you like to read?
Actually, because I really have a lack of time to read, I used to listen to audio books. It feels much the same as reading a book for me. I couldn’t say which books I read and which I listened to, so I spend much much time listening to audio books while I am paintings during my days of works. They are marvellous and they help me to go on and keep working during 14 hours a day when I have to.
Which book has had the biggest impact on your career so far?
What two pieces of advice would you give a young aspiring artist?
Work. Produce. Work. Do not chew over it too much. Work.
Who would you say are the three artists that continue to inspire you?
Henry Darger, Beatrix Potter, Raymond Depardon – who is a French photographer.
Do you have any books that you strongly associate with someone important in your life?
Le Dahlia Noir by James Elroy is a book that I read to my husband during many evenings and it traumatised me. Je, Francois Villon from Jean Teulé that is a book that my mother recommended to me. The story is awfully violent, and my mother is so sweet, I’ll never understand why she pushed me to read it! Finally, Ermites Dans La Taïga by Vassili Peskov, which reminds me of my father who is fascinated by hermitage and wildlife.
What book have you recommended the most to friends and family?
The book I’ve recommended most is Belle Du Seigneur by Albert Cohen.
Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?
I like to confuse the both, it doesn’t matter much to me.
Do you think reading is important?
I think stories are important.
What’s the best book you’ve read in the last 6 months?
The best books I’ve read in the last six months are La Tendresse Des Pierres by Marion Fayolle which is a graphic novel; or a more ‘classic’ book, Vernon Subutex from Virginie Despentes.
Do you prefer real books or digital books?
I prefer real books.
Do you think there is a relationship between books and art?
I believe there is a relationship between stories and art, yes.
Name a book that you feel every human should have to read by law.
Again, I would say a dictionary (24 volumes if possible).
What is the book that you feel has had the single biggest impact on your life?
Are there any books you haven’t mentioned that you feel would make your reading list?
I would also include;
Salambo by Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, Blonde from Joyce Carol Oates, The Little Friend by Donna Tartt, and The Paperboy by Pete Dexter.
But I’d also include any books by Octave Mirbeau, Chris Ware, Marcel Aymé or John Steinbeck. There are just so many, it would be an endless list!
What books or subject matter do you plan on reading in the next year?
This year I am eager to explore my curiosity for poetry.
If you were to write an autobiography – what would it be called?
The Others: Survive with… or rather, Survive with Me. But I don’t think it would be so interesting.
If you’d like to learn more about Rébecca Dautremer and her work, you can find her on her website and Facebook.
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