We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chloe M Giroux. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chloe M below.

Chloe M, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My current most meaningful project would have to be the book I created for my MFA Thesis in SVA’s MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Program.

I have dreamed of attending this program since I was very little. My Mom actually teaches in the program, so you could say I kind of grew up “looking in.” When it was finally my turn to go through the 2 year program, I initially struggled with what I wanted to make for my 2nd year MFA Thesis project. After a lot of planning, and with advice from my advisor, Doug Salati, I decided that I wanted to make something that would help me show my range as not only an illustrator, but also as an author. That project became my collection of illustrated short stories, which all surround my main character, Peter J. Mouse.

Peter is a renowned adventurer and storyteller throughout the forest, known especially for his numerous trophies featured prominently on his fireplace mantel. In my thesis, “The Collected Adventures of Peter J. Mouse,” Peter regales his reader, telling the stories of how three of his favorite souvenirs came into his possession. With each trophy connected to its own story, “Night Flight,” “Fly Fishing,” and “Crow & the Cup of Stars” all feature tonally colored vignettes and full colored illustrations alongside Peter’s narration.

In this 72-page book, I was able to stretch my writing muscles and show stories that differ tonally from one another, show different sides of my characters’ personalities, and then illustrate them. Each story even takes place at different times of day and locations to showcase background and environmental range.

I had dreamed of going to this MFA program since I was maybe 5 years old (or younger!) and I wanted to have my thesis project not only challenge me or match my monumental expectation of the program, and myself. I came out the other side with a book that I am immensely proud of, and feel confident and ready to show it to the world of publishing.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m an illustrator & cartoonist, but really what best describes me is “bookmaker.” I always find myself writing & telling stories and making different kinds of books ever since I could grasp a pencil. I was born & raised in New York to two creative parents; my Dad went to school to be a graphic designer, and my Mom is an illustrator. I had the privilege of growing up in an incredibly creative household that valued art, music, and above all; narrative.

I consider myself very lucky that I knew what I wanted to be from a very young age; an illustrator. Art supplies were never in short supply, and I grew up watching my Mom illustrate often for the New York Times.

At first, I wanted to be an editorial illustrator, just like Mom, and have work featured in magazines and newspapers, but I realized that when I started undergrad in SVA’s BFA Illustration program, that that wasn’t me. I did end up doing some editorial and infographic work when I graduated, but it was in my senior year at SVA that I realized I wanted to be a children’s book author/illustrator.

I took David Soman’s Children’s Book Illustration course and it truly changed my life. I never experienced so deeply how a practice like children’s book illustration & writing could click into place like that. I’ve been on the path of creating more children’s books and trying to get a start in the publishing world ever since.

Trying to find my place in the publishing world is a long road though. I’m currently seeking representation for an agent, which they say is akin to getting married. It’s a very personal thing that really relies on timing and connection. In the meantime, I’m creating more and more stories, which I illustrate in lovingly inked textures and line work.

While I love children’s book illustration, I also create comics. I’ve self-published over 20 zines and mini comics and have tabled at conventions since 2018. The comics world is an amazing place where my inked line work, love of printmaking, and writing can all combine for an audience. I’ve recently started creating digital comics every week on instagram as a kind of weekly diary entry, I find them incredibly therapeutic and a great way of archiving my twenties.

While I do practice several mediums, and am a part of multiple communities, more than anything, I would love to be recognized by my bold and lush ink work. My inked line ties together my work across mediums and genres, and allows me to grow and experiment, while still staying connected to my artistic identity. Working with my written stories, my ink work threads my storytelling across mediums, chasing the magic of childhood, and helping me to recapture the world through the eyes of my kid self.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

There is one in particular goal that’s been at the forefront for me this past year, and it’s a pillar in my children’s book author/illustration journey.

I’m very passionate about the stage in which children go from reading fully illustrated picture books, to non-illustrated chapter books. I remember as a kid myself that a lot of my peers fell out of love with reading in that transitory stage. I think most kids (including myself at the time) feel intimidated with that stark transition. I know spot-illustrated series like “Series of Unfortunate Events” and “Spiderwick,” were instrumental in making me feel secure in that reading level change.

I believe that demographic deserves more highly-illustrated chapter books and it’s my goal to create more stories that fit into that category. It’s such a great time for readers at that age; they’re getting older and starting to read on their own and develop favorite genres and series. Why can’t they be illustrated too? And I’m talking more than just a chapter header illustration.

It would be so fulfilling to contribute and one day be among those titles, not to mention having my work be in the hands of young readers. It would be an honor to help them feel secure in that reading transition.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When I was in middle school & high school, I had the privilege of attending a private school. If you know me even a little bit, you’ll know I love school, but this time for me was incredibly rigorous and difficult. It was a preparatory school, which I felt so honored to attend, but as a neurodivergent person, the curriculum came with its challenges.

One of the core things I learned there was rigid time management. I will always be grateful for that skill, but at that time, it would combine with my anxiety and create a really unsustainable pace for me. With incredibly harsh expectations & extreme highs and lows.

When I started college, I realized that I had to break down the main pillars of the time management skill, which was taught to me by non-creatives, and change it so it would apply to my creative & anxious self. This was invaluable to me and I am so glad I did the work on myself to get there, even with my therapist by my side. I realized that I could take the qualities of those time management practices and create systems for myself that weren’t (entirely) fueled by anxiety or stress. Instead of putting myself on the chopping block in the face of a deadline, I started to sort things according to priority and taking things at my own pace.

Once I took the time to personalize these systems, I found myself gradually being able to take on not only larger projects, but sustainable ones. It took me years, but even just this past year, I was able to write and illustrate my 72-page MFA thesis in just 8 months without pulling a single all-nighter.

I was able to turn something that was once my insecurity, and an unsustainable practice, into something that serves the balance in my work life (and my personal life).

It’s actually one of my goals to try and teach time management and organizational skills workshops for artists someday. It’s a priceless tool that I believe can be shaped to each individual over time and with effort and support.

Contact Info:

• Website: chloegiroux.com
• Instagram: @girouxkangaroo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloemgiroux/
• Twitter: @girouxkangaroo
• Other: Substack: “A Fine Kettle of Fish” newsletter: https://chloegiroux.substack.com/ tiktok: @girouxkangaroo