Magic, Mice and Medieval Maidens – An Interview with Illustrator Serena Malyon
Rising star Serena Malyon is a Canadian illustrator mainly known for her work in children’s books. Inspired by artists from the Golden Age of Illustration but with a totally unique style of her own, Serena has the gift of conjuring whole worlds from just one image.
A master of watercolour and gouache, Serena has worked on a huge variety of illustration projects including children’s books, graphic novels, textbooks and fantasy maps. She has won a number of awards, with her Salt Harbour map winning the Cartographer’s Guild ‘Most Creative Map’ award in 2019.
Some of her most impressive work to date can be found in the Mouse Guard Alphabet Book, created with established comic book creator David Petersen. His beloved Mouse Guard series is set in a world of sentient mice who live in a medieval era, protecting and serving their fellow mice. Serena has brought this world to life with timeless illustrations that are sure to make this book a classic. Each illustration is a stunning work of art in its own right.
Having been captivated by her work, I was excited to ask Serena a few questions about her career and inspiration…
You studied Design at Alberta College of Art and Design. Did you always want to be an artist, and did you grow up in an artistic environment?
I grew up in a house of creatives, so I’ve always considered art a viable career. My grandfather Bernard Safran was a fine artist and illustrator, and while he passed away when I was very young, I have learned a lot just from growing up around his work. My grandmother Adele Safran was the one who taught me how to draw from life, so I had a lot of encouragement from a young age.
Roaming City 
Rivendell
You seem to draw on a huge range of influences – I can see Gustav Klimt, John Bauer, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and many others in your work. Which artists or writers have inspired you over the years?
I have a strong emotional connection to the young adult genre, and books like Sabriel, His Dark Materials and Harry Potter were all very influential in my life. It seems I’m drawn most to stories where a regular kid gets caught up in a fantasy world — I still spend much of my time hiding away in other worlds.
As far as artistic influences, I learned how to tell a story in an image through the illustrators from the Golden Age of Illustration – NC Wyeth, Arthur Rackham, Dulac, Pyle. I’ve always loved the Pre-Raphaelites, but in recent years I’ve dived into renaissance, medieval and ancient art as inspiration. I’m really drawn to how ancient art focuses on telling a full story in an image, rather than capturing a single moment.
Unlike many illustrators today, you still use traditional methods of painting such as gouache and watercolour. Why do you prefer these media over others and how do you combine these with digital tools?
I’ve just found a way of working that feels natural to me. I find it easiest to mix colours in watercolour, so I pick out a palette that way, and I clean it up with acryla gouache to give it the polish I desire. I still use Photoshop for a lot of my client work, but its very satisfying to have a physical painting at the end of the hours of work that I can keep or sell. Photoshop is always a part of my process though, as even my fully-traditional paintings require colour correction and the removal of cat hair!
Do you have any pieces or projects that you are particularly proud of so far?
I’m very proud of my personal series of giants I’ve been working on. I’m exploring the idea of elemental giants and their symbiotic relationships with humanity, and the project has me bursting with ideas.
As far as published work that I’m proud of, nothing can touch my love for the Mouse Guard Alphabet Book. I worked with Mouse Guard creator David Petersen and BOOM! Studios a few years ago to illustrate a children’s book based around the world he created, and it was such a privilege to take part in. I still can’t believe I got to contribute to the Mouse Guard mythology in my own way.
Have you faced any challenges in your work due to the pandemic, or has it impacted the way you work at all?
In a way, I’m very lucky because my lifestyle was a quiet one to begin with. I work from home normally, so that didn’t change. It was scary at the beginning because all publishing took a hiatus when the pandemic started, and work dried up completely for about 6 months, but I took the time to make some paintings that felt therapeutic for me.
What are you working on at the moment, and can you say anything about any upcoming projects?
Right now I’m working on a few textbooks, so most people above the age of 10 will never see those illustrations, but I’m looking forward to diving back into my personal work soon.
About the Artist
Serena Malyon is a Canadian freelance illustrator. She grew up around art and spent her early days drawing medieval maidens and knights. In 2012 she graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design, and has built a career on her love of fantasy and adventure.
Copyright: All pictures in this post are copyrighted Serena Malyon. Their reproduction, even in part, is forbidden without the explicit approval of the rightful owners.
