isabelle arsenault illustrates stories. what's really exciting about her work is that the illustrations also tell stories in their own right. i've come to realize that the reason i buy a certain kind of "picture book" is because they carry parallel narratives - one textual and one visual. in other words, if the text was removed, the images would fill me with the story or stories they have to tell and i would experience the same wondrous transporting away from this world that i experience with really well-written stories..
isabelle's work brings together the very best of the magically rich and the beautifully simple worlds of the imagination. you can see as much as you want or as little as you want. regardless of the degree or nature of your commitment, they are places to spend time.
here are a couple of examples that can be found in her first illustrated book entitled mr. gauguin's heart.
look at this beautiful illustration . . .
