INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTIANE BEAUREGARD
COVER ARTIST 2025
“Whatever the medium, what matters is the emotion and ideas that emerge. Renewing myself, enjoying and trusting the creative process is my modus vivendi.”
~ Christiane Beauregard
Christiane Beauregard is a Canadian illustrator, artist, and designer known for her poetic, whimsical style and distinctive flat-perspective compositions. For over three decades, her richly detailed digital work has brought imagination and refinement to projects across children’s media, editorial, advertising, and institutional commissions.
She began her career designing illustrations and sets for children’s television and books, and in the early 1990s, helped pioneer the use of Adobe Illustrator in publishing with the first fully illustrated digital visual dictionary—a medium she has favored ever since.
Her unmistakable, narrative-driven style has earned her commissions from clients including The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Canada Post, Evian, and Société Générale.
Christiane’s work has been widely exhibited and recognized by the Society of Illustrators (NY & LA), Communication Arts, Applied Arts, 3×3, Graphis, and Digital Arts California, among others.
She is represented by Rapp Art.
Where did you grow up? How did that shape you as a person and as a creative?
Christiane: I grew up surrounded by art, thanks to my grandmother’s discerning collection. As a child, I was captivated by the artworks in her home and spent hours observing them, each one seemed to tell its own story.
I still remember where they were placed in each room of the house. That early exposure sparked my curiosity about how art can affect and move its viewers, a perspective that continues to influence my work today.
What inspired you to pursue a career in illustration?
Christiane: I’ve always loved to draw, even from a young age. My parents persuaded me to pursue that talent, and I completed a four-year program at the Institut des Arts Appliqués, in Montréal.
We love the whimsy and crisp details in your work. How did you develop your distinct style?
Christiane: I think my style developed naturally over time. When I worked in television creating props and illustrations, I often had very tight deadlines, so I had to rely on what emerged in the moment. That experience taught me to trust spontaneity and let inspiration guide the process. I believe that’s where my style began—by learning to follow the creative flow rather than overthinking it.
You are clearly a passionate artist. What are some of the driving forces behind your work?
Christiane: I’ve been fortunate to have had great teachers during art school who deeply influenced me. Early in my career, when I worked in television, I had the opportunity to collaborate with inspiring artists, which helped shape both my creative vision and professional path.
A major turning point was discovering Adobe Illustrator. It has long been my medium of choice and served as a perfect bridge from my watercolor illustrations. I have an affinity with its precision, geometry and soft blends. I’ve travelled a long way on its Bézier curves!
Whatever the medium, what matters is the emotion and ideas that emerge. Renewing myself, enjoying and trusting the creative process is my modus vivendi.
Who or what inspires you and influences your work?
Christiane: Beauty…and it really is in the eye of the beholder! It’s all around us; it just depends on how we choose to see and interpret it.
Can you share with us a little about your creative process?
Christiane: At the start of a project, my sketches are chaotic. My focus is intense, and it’s during this phase that I need to trust what’s unfolding, while remaining open to new directions—whether sparked by a color or something as simple as accidentally rotating a shape.
With patience, the concept or narrative begins to take form. I work on composition and color simultaneously, for me, the two are inseparable. They set the atmosphere and mood, and will hopefully inspire the viewer.
Was working on this cover a special project for you?
Christiane: Absolutely. Each year, the Directory of Illustration features a story of inspiration from a selected artist on the cover and interior opening pages. Terri Wright, at Workbook reached out to me, asking to use several of my illustrations to help tell that story. She invited me to work with her in shaping the final project. Needless to say, I was thrilled and deeply honored.
What message or feeling do the images express for you? What do you hope viewers will come away with?
Christiane: Terri told me, “Your artwork makes such a positive statement!” I was genuinely touched. If my illustrations manage to express those feelings—then I feel I’ve succeeded in what I set out to do. That’s why I chose illustration in the first place: to communicate, to connect, and hopefully, to touch people in a meaningful way.
What are you currently focusing on or learning about?
Christiane: I’m making sculptures made out of recycled objects because I enjoy working with my hands, and practicing yoga because it helps me stay focused and mindful.
If you weren’t an illustrator, is there another path you think you might have followed?
Christiane: A bit late for me now, but in another life, I could see myself as an architect or an archaeologist.
What advice would you give to emerging illustrators?
Christiane: Trust the process. Even if things don’t go as planned, new opportunities will present themselves—it all comes together eventually. Stay open, learn from your mistakes, and try not to be too hard on yourself. And remember the three P’s: Passion, Perseverance, and Patience.
A heartfelt thank you to Christiane for sharing her creative process with us—and for her stunning cover artwork. This year’s cover is nothing short of extraordinary, and we’re truly honored to showcase it to the world.
Cover and End Sheets: Christiane Beauregard
Book Designer: Terri Wright / Book Lotus Productions, LLC
Creative Director: Tamra Dempsey
