The illustrations in children’s books have the
power to captivate children’s – and adults’ –
hungry minds, so
Editor-in-chief Freya Paleit
caught up with talented illustrator
Mariko Jesse
,
to discuss all things arty and imaginative.
M
ariko Jesse is the
successful illustrator
behind
The Adventures
of Max and Mei
– the
bilingual books that captivate young
children learning Mandarin, as
they meet all the animals in the
Chinese zodiac. The Max and Mei
series was created by the acclaimed
author Martha Keswick to provide
parents with engaging and interesting
bilingual stories to share with their
children, while exposing them to
Chinese culture and strengthening
their Mandarin listening
comprehension skills.
After designing the artwork at
Pacific Place for the Chinese New
Year in 2015, Mariko Jesse was back
in Hong Kong to develop her Hong
Picture
this!
Kong-themed ceramic range. She
found time to tell me all about her
illustration work for Max and Mei,
and all the other projects that are
keeping her busy…
When did you first show an interest
in art and the creative world?
It was a very young thing for me – as
soon as I could hold a crayon, I was
drawing. My parents had to keep
giving me paper, and if the paper ran
out, then I would start on the walls!
And then they would have to work
hard to clean it off.
My dad was a graphic designer and
my mum was a ceramicist, so it was
natural for me to be creative – it was
in the family. I think it is just in me.
There was never any question about
February 2016
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