In 2019, Audrey embarked on a career in entrepreneurship. But barely a year later, the Covid-19 health crisis threw her plans into disarray. Rather than give up, she decided to reinvent herself by launching Les Éditions Bisous, a brand of sunny illustrations that pay tribute to the Var region and the South of France.
Why kisses? Because this simple word evokes a universal token of love.
“It’s less intimate than ‘I love you,’ but it conveys a closeness, a gentleness, an affection that is dear to my heart.”
Its goal? To highlight the beauty of our region through clean, bright visuals that evoke memories and emotions.
“I want people to look at my illustrations and say to themselves: ‘I spent my entire childhood here.’”
His creations represent the gentleness of our landscapes, the in which many of us grew up, bubbles of well-being. True Madeleines de Proust to display in your home.
Audrey always works freehand, immersing herself in the places she illustrates. No preparation, no lengthy research: it is her immediate feelings that guide her strokes.
“When I arrive at a place, I photograph it and observe it. It’s the feeling at that moment that counts.”
His drawings never depict people, giving everyone the freedom to project their own memories onto them. However, they all share a common theme: the presence of the sun, that “irregular ball” that embodies the light and warmth of the South.
This year, Audrey is taking a new step forward by exhibiting for the very first time, and what’s more, at the Villa Turquoise in La Croix Valmer until September 28. It’s been an emotionally charged experience, tinged with “impostor syndrome,” but quickly swept away by the enthusiastic feedback from the public at last Saturday’s opening.
“I wondered if I belonged in an exhibition hall. In the end, visitors showed me that my illustrations really touched them.”
His products are accessible to everyone, without numbered editions, and available for purchase on site (until September 28) or online (https://leseditionsbisous.com/).
You can also find them at retail stores such as Printemps in Toulon and Vélizy in Paris, Charlemagne bookstores, and Concepts Stores.
Through her sunny illustrations, Audrey reminds us of something essential:
“Life is beautiful in the South.” XOXO
XOXO