Meet Penny Fournier | Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Penny Fournier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Penny, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
The short answer to this dreaded question is that making art is the only thing I know how to do. The long answer is that it’s the only thing I want to be doing. I wanted to pick a career that would challenge me and evolve as I changed through the years. At 18 I was living in Paris, drawing short comics and taking more “traditional” art classes but I decided to move to New York to study illustration at the School Of Visual Arts. To me illustration ticks all the boxes: I’m able to work in various fields while consistently growing as an artist, I make my own hours and take my dog to work! I can’t imagine it any other way.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been working as an illustrator for a long time and what I find the most rewarding about it is that I get to wear many different caps. From project to project I get to experience with my art, one day I’ll be drawing a family portrait and the next I’m set designing. I love being able to work with my clients and help them realize their visions. Through the years I’ve been able to work in many different fields like stationery, brand design, book covers, editorial, animation or cartooning. It keeps me on my toes and lets me grow as an artist. I’m also passionate about creating personal comics to talk about topics that matter to me, especially regarding mental health and women’s rights. I try to tackle these subjects with humor and sincerity and it seems to resonate with a number of people. I love being able to foster a community around topics I care about.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The charm of New York is that although it can feel like a large and buzzing city, it’s actually more like a hundred little villages put together, you just have to know where to look. I’m based in NoHo and my perfect day is to grab breakfast at Rintintin, take a walk in the community gardens, especially the Liz Christy community garden, then check out the many little stores around SoHo and the Lower East Side, on Ludlow and Clinton st. I love going to Williamsburg and checking out the vintage shops, my personal favorite for chatchkis is Mother of Junk. If you have some more time I recommend a day trip to Cold Spring, with a short train ride you find yourself by the water, in a picture book little town with cute shops and places to eat.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m a strong believer that for everything in life, it takes a village. I wouldn’t be anywhere without the support of my given and chosen family, as well as the incredible group of teachers and artists that encourage and inspire me daily.

Website: https://www.pennyillustration.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/penny.illustration/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@penny.illustration