Meet Julie Rocheleau, the Artist Behind the 15th Edition MCAF Poster
A few weeks ahead of the 15th edition of the Montreal Comic Arts Festival, we sat down with illustrator and comics creator Julie Rocheleau, who designed this year’s poster, to learn more about her artistic universe and inspirations.
Creating the Poster
“The theme was VIVANTE! (‘Alive!’), and MCAF takes place in the spring, so ‘alive’ and spring naturally go very well together. At some point, the image of the chrysalis and the butterfly became obvious. Of course, it’s very seasonal — butterflies return and emerge from their cocoons, just like people come out onto Saint-Denis Street to buy comics. But there’s also the metaphor of creation itself, with everything happening hidden inside the chrysalis before finally emerging. I thought it was a beautiful way to represent all of that.”
© Frédérick Wolfe, 2024
Inspirations
“Ideas can come from anywhere. It can be music, an atmosphere, films I’ve seen recently. It can also come from a walk in nature, from a pleasant or unpleasant conversation I’ve had or overheard. Inspiration can come from everywhere, and then it’s up to the brain to digest it all.”
How Her Style Has Evolved Over Time
“I feel like my style has relaxed over time. At the beginning, it was very angular, with sharp elements. Now, I think it’s become rounder, softer. Like anyone else, we grow older and become interested in new things while losing interest in others, and that naturally influences what we create. It’s not even something I have that much control over.”
Latest Comics Favourite
“I’ve been reading a lot of Michael DeForge lately. I had seen his drawings before, but I had never actually read his work, and recently I completely fell into it. Graphically, the lines and compositions are incredible, but I also love his offbeat, slightly surreal way of commenting on our culture through completely original and fascinating detours. It’s funny, sensitive, poetic, weird — basically everything I love!”
A Memorable MCAF Memory
“Last year, it rained freezing cold rain for three straight days, and yet what I remember is that people still showed up — with their kids, their dogs, and their bags full of books. They stood there under the pouring rain chatting, in no hurry to go anywhere. It made me realize that there are people who truly love what we do.”
Favourite Place in Montreal
“There are so many because I’ve lived in a lot of different neighbourhoods. To keep it short, I’d say the Carrières Bike Path, especially under the Van Horne overpass. There are often musicians practicing there, but also impromptu jam sessions. Now I live in Hochelaga, near the Botanical Garden, and I absolutely love it there. I go every season to see how the trees and flowers evolve.”
Horizons, La relève médiatique en tournée des festivals
This article was written by Félix-Antoine Turgeon, a journalist in the program Horizons, La relève médiatique en tournée des festivals, an initiative of the Regroupement des festivals régionaux artistiques indépendants (REFRAIN), in collaboration with the École supérieure en Art et technologie des médias at Cégep de Jonquière. This project gives emerging media professionals the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of festivals and the arts in all their forms.
