Hello! My name is Caroline Whelan and I am a freelance illustrator based in Chicoutimi, Québec, originally from Toronto, Ontario.

From a young age, I've always loved the arts. I discovered my love for illustration as a child, constantly drawing things that I loved and saw around me.

As a child, I was inspired by the illustrations I saw in storybooks. I was a shy child, so to me, they were an escape from reality and a source of amusement. I liked to zone in on little details, and wonder how the artists did what they did, what their artistic process was, what they were thinking when they made their work. I noticed that every artist had a different style, a different voice. They were speaking without words.

I still remember the first book I owned, given to me as a birthday gift from my grandparents- "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie", written by Laura Numeroff, and illustrated by Felicia Bond. This has remained one of my favourite books to date. Some of my favourite books as a child came from Robert Munsch, Jan Brett, and Barbara Reid.

The main reason I love illustration, is because it can convey messages without text, and can be interpreted differently by various people, as well as help people learn.

Today, I find myself getting inspired by the world around me, especially by nature. Now that I live in Chicoutimi, I am in a place surrounded by nature, so finding inspiration isn't difficult!

I'm a traveler, so I also find inspiration in the new things I see, do and experience around the world. I believe there is so much to see, so why would you contain yourself to one place?

Children's book illustration is also a huge influence on my work, I still love to look at these books and get inspired by the images. I have even illustrated 4 books, which you may see on my website: www.carolinewillustration.ca

I'm an introvert, and I keep to myself a lot, but I feel that my art can do some talking for me. Illustration is about communicating the world around you as you see it, communicating emotions, and speaking without words-, which are all things I strive for my illustrations to accomplish.

I live to learn, experience, and create.

Want to follow my creative process and see new work? Then follow me on Instagram @carolinew_illustration