{"id":89007,"date":"2025-04-11T16:16:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-11T20:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/?p=89007"},"modified":"2025-04-11T16:18:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T20:18:51","slug":"shop-talk-jessica-roux-illustration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/blog\/museum-shop\/shop-talk-jessica-roux-illustration\/","title":{"rendered":"Shop Talk: Jessica Roux Illustration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jessica Roux<\/a> is a Nashville-based illustrator, author, and nature enthusiast. Her clients include the New Yorker<\/em>, New York Times<\/em>, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Penguin Random House, among others. Roux also creates books, stationery, and products celebrating her love of nature. In honor of Earth Month, we spoke with Roux about the natural world\u2019s profound impact on her work and practice.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shop Jessica Roux prints in NMWA\u2019s Museum Shop<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Jessica Roux; Photo courtesy of the artist <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you could step into one of the illustrated worlds you\u2019ve created, what would that experience be like?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In my work, I try to capture the magic of nature. Stepping into one of my illustrations, you would feel the damp moss beneath your feet, smell the fresh air with hints of blossoming flowers, hear birds chirping and the hooves of deer running past, and sense the adventure that awaits. With many of my works, there is a hint of something brewing below the surface. Something to discover, perhaps a bit dark, but rich with detail and a hint of alchemy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you incorporate storytelling into your illustrations?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve always been obsessed with plants and animals. When I was little, my parents set up easels in the backyard, and I\u2019d spend time painting the objects I\u2019d find: sticks, flowers, acorns, feathers, cicada shells. I also always had a lot of pets and still do…[they] inspire me. My interest in history, mythology, and folklore comes from one of my other great hobbies: reading. The stories I\u2019ve come across\u2014from ancient Greek mythology to tales of Mozart\u2019s pet starling to the Victorian language of flowers\u2014hold such magic and intrigue. Both painting and reading provide a way for me to escape into different worlds. I hope my work conveys those environments.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An
Jessica Roux prints are available in NMWA’s Museum Shop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Do you see illustration as a tool for environmental and conservation awareness?\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Absolutely. I believe illustrators have a social responsibility to spread awareness and inspire action. Every artwork I make is because I deeply love nature, and I am terrified it will disappear within my lifetime. It\u2019s impossible to ignore the devastating environmental changes taking place, which are affecting all living creatures.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the greatest compliments I\u2019ve ever received was from a buyer who, while looking through my portfolio, told me, \u201cI appreciate your dedication to the strange, unusual, and endangered animals.\u201d That really stuck with me. I just love tapirs, axolotls, African wild dogs, and the like. I hope that when people see them, they feel inspired to learn more about them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An
Jessica Roux prints are available in NMWA’s Museum Shop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you could learn directly from a historical period or figure, which era or artist would you choose and why?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d love to learn the art of the medieval illuminated manuscript, take a design class from William Morris, or spend a sunny afternoon at Hill Top Farm with Beatrix Potter. Each holds a special place in my heart\u2014the detail and character in medieval manuscripts, the flowing patterns and color palette of Morris\u2019s Victorian patterns, and Potter\u2019s ability to capture the personality of a creature so perfectly that it practically jumps off the page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your work was featured in a museum exhibition, what themes would you want to highlight, and what message would you hope visitors take away?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I would love to be featured in an exhibition of illustrators who garden that showcases how gardening affects our artwork. Gardening is such an important part of my life and my work, and I know so many fellow artists who find solace among their flower and vegetable patches. My own practice focuses on gardening for mental health. The time spent outdoors digging holes and tending plants directly influences my illustrations and writing. I would hope to inspire visitors to start gardens of their own\u2014whatever the size\u2014and start connecting with the natural world in a new way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In honor of Earth Month, we spoke with illustrator Jessica Roux about the natural world\u2019s profound impact on her work and practice.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[1622],"class_list":["post-89007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-museum-shop","tag-shop-talk"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nShop Talk: Jessica Roux Illustration | Broad Strokes Blog | National Museum of Women in the Arts<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/blog\/museum-shop\/shop-talk-jessica-roux-illustration\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Shop Talk: Jessica Roux Illustration | Broad Strokes Blog | National Museum of Women in the Arts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In honor of Earth Month, we spoke with illustrator Jessica Roux about the natural world\u2019s profound impact on her work and practice.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/blog\/museum-shop\/shop-talk-jessica-roux-illustration\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"National Museum of Women in the Arts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/womeninthearts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-04-11T20:16:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-11T20:18:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jessica-Roux-Photo.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Alicia Gregory\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jessica-Roux-Photo.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@womeninthearts\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@womeninthearts\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Alicia Gregory\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/blog\/museum-shop\/shop-talk-jessica-roux-illustration\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/blog\/museum-shop\/shop-talk-jessica-roux-illustration\/\",\"name\":\"Shop Talk: Jessica Roux Illustration | Broad Strokes Blog | National Museum of Women in the Arts\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/blog\/museum-shop\/shop-talk-jessica-roux-illustration\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/blog\/museum-shop\/shop-talk-jessica-roux-illustration\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jessica-Roux-Photo.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-11T20:16:12+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-11T20:18:51+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/#\/schema\/person\/6a7013e5d47b0a5ef5cc624cfbf1562b\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/blog\/museum-shop\/shop-talk-jessica-roux-illustration\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/blog\/museum-shop\/shop-talk-jessica-roux-illustration\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/blog\/museum-shop\/shop-talk-jessica-roux-illustration\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jessica-Roux-Photo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/nmwa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Jessica-Roux-Photo.jpg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":2556,\"caption\":\"Jessica Roux; 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