Illustrator Julia Denos Draws Us In

By Lexi Green
January 9, 2012

Julia Denos

Children's book illustrations by Julie Denos: "Just Being Audrey" ($16.99), "I Had a Favorite Dress" ($16.99)

Over here at The Inside Source, we love a sweet illustration. You can give us a watercolor print of a bouquet of flowers, a sketch of a glamorous dress or a chic city scene done in charcoal any day of the week.

So it should come as no surprise that we love the work of illustrator Julia Denos. Her playful illustrations have graced the pages of Anthology magazine, the covers of tween novels and even a few ads for luxury products. (She sells some of her original prints—from cats to portraits to characters—on her online shop. We’d love to snag the “Little Dresses” poster.)

But when it comes to what we love most about her work, it has to be the children’s books. We’re big fans of her illustrations for Just Being Audrey, a picture book all about Audrey Hepburn and her classic style. We also adore her work on I Had a Favorite Dress, a children’s book (though it appeals to grown-ups, too) about holding on for dear life to that favorite article of clothing.

Julia Denos

“Little Dresses” ($35)

We've been hoping to pick Denos' brain for some time now, and we finally had the chance.

The Inside Source: Hi Julia! What was the first drawing you ever made where you said, “OK I can do this?”

Julia Denos: I remember drawing an Egyptian princess exactly as I saw her in my head at age 8. I was hooked!

The Inside Source: Your illustrations run the gamut, from children’s books to fashion illustrations. What are you working on now?

Julia Denos: I started out working on children’s books and I still do that today (largely book covers for older readers now) and picture books. I also spend a lot of my time working on my "fashion" characters, where I test out color and stretch my style. I have started to play with design and texture in a more design-oriented way than when I started out.

Julia Denos

"Audrey On the Silverscreen" ($100)

The Inside Source: Where do you get inspiration for your drawings?

Julia Denos: I gather inspiration from clothing catalogues, museums, store fronts, written words, history, color palettes in nature and of course, the color palettes in my crayon box!

The Inside Source: When it comes to sitting down to work, where do you begin the illustration process?

Julia Denos: If I am drawing a figure, then I usually begin with a face I see, which is not what we were taught to do in art school. But, it is what I need to do to connect with a character and really understand him or her. Then, the rest of the piece comes together on its own and informs me about how it needs to be as far as color application and design go.

The Inside Source: What is your favorite part of being an illustrator?

Julia Denos: I love that I continue doing my most favorite thing in the world! I play for a living! I love to challenge myself and push my style to new and unimagined places, and keep myself honest in this way.

Julia Denos

"Audrey & Famous" Greeting Card ($25)

The Inside Source: If we were to you give you a blank canvas, any blank canvas in the world, what would you draw and why?

Julia Denos: I would probably draw a little girl, with lots of color. I draw little girls most of the time, maybe because I was one, once. My family was mostly comprised of sisters and aunts. I admire the strength and complexity in girls that is always hiding underneath a surface of something frilly or feminine. There is a wild spirit in all children—a fearlessness and uniqueness that we should try to invoke every day in ourselves. I love to try to express that.

The Inside Source: When you're not illustrating, what can we find we you doing?

Julia Denos: You can fine me writing, cooking, cracking open an old musty book or shopping! I love bargain hunting for classic pieces. I use shopping as a way to do color and pattern research, even if I am just window-shopping.

The Inside Source: How do you use eBay?

Julia Denos: I love to draw inspiration from vintage picture books or rare art and eBay is a perfect place for that! I've also got a shopping bug, so right now I'm obsessively scouring the Internet for a classic plaid flannel-lined yellow Macintosh-style raincoat. I have my eyes on a few prints and books by some of my favorite artists like M. Sasek, Ludwig Bemelmans, Clare Turlay Newberry and Helen Jameson Hall.

Julia found a few items from eBay that she could see inspiring her work, or bringing into her studio:

Antique Lamp Table Sewing Machine Base

(buy it now price, $360)

"I love repurposing—how neat it would be to draw or craft or even eat at an old Singer table?"
Fire King Glass Jadeite Swirl Mixing Bowls

(buy it now price, $375)

"I’ve had a mild obsession with this color throughout my lifetime. Fire King's old line 'Jadeite' is dreamy to me, and happens to be back in style. I also love pairing it with mismatched china."
1900s Paris Market 1900s Linen Dress Form

(buy it now price, $1,195)

"I have no room in my studio for this, but I've always loved old dress forms for inspiration."
Antique Vintage Dog Ceramic Book Ends

"I love their slightly 'off' faces and those classic black and white spots! They'd be good friends to my picture book shelf."
1st Edition "The Donkey Inside" by Ludwig Bemelmans

(buy it now price, $85)

"Since reading Madeline as a little girl, I have been a lifelong fan of Ludwig Bemelmans. I just swoon over his handmade type, and his color usage inspires me to play in my own art. I love old books, so it's a plus that it's a first edition book of his and one I have never seen before!"
Vintage Vera Neumann Scarf

(buy it now price, $26)

"I so admire Vera's work and her entrepreneurial innovation. I am also a sucker for scarves!"