How I bought right here: Illustrator Serge Bloch
For a style of illustration that seems wonderfully childlike, Serge Bloch's work has proven to be popular in the serious business of newspaper publishing and the art world alike. The Paris-based artist has given his simple but bizarre aesthetic to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Le Monde and Liberation, as well as magazines such as Time, New Yorker and Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin. Over the years, his charming, full-color illustrations have also caught the attention of brands and he has found clients in everything from Hermès to Petit Bateau, as well as Coca-Cola and Samsung.
It is clear that Bloch's work has a universal appeal to both adults and children. His illustrations have appeared in over 300 books, including some of his own, such as Sam and His Father and Reach for the Stars, as well as the Max et Lili series co-authored with Dominique de Saint-Mars. Prior to that, he was Art Director at Bayard Jeunesse publishing house, where he worked in children's and youth literature.
From phone apps to the printed page, Bloch likes to bring his carefree touch to various media. At exhibitions he generously enters the room with a brush, as if the paint had dripped from the canvases on display onto the walls. At the beginning of this year he pushed the concept of immersion even further with his Boîtes à rire show at the Centquatre in Paris. The installation brought together Bloch's line drawings, augmented reality, and a series of physical “boxes” that people can put their ears to, stick their heads in, and even walk in to create an immersive experience for children and parents.
He talks to us about how he got started in illustration, why he loves creating for children as much as he does for adults, and how important humor is in life and work.
About his rural upbringing I was creative as a kid. I had a wonderful country life as a kid and it was good for my imagination. I grew up in a small town called Colmar in eastern France. It's close to the German border so it's a nice place as it mixes German and French cultures.
I was the only one (who was “creative” in my family), but I always thought that everyone was creative, not just the artists. I think creativity is everywhere.
Above and Above: Valentine's Day illustrations for the New Yorker