Set in the heart of Montmartre, this illustration captures the Place du Tertre on a calm, sunlit autumn morning. I wanted to evoke Paris’s artistic spirit: cafés opening for the day, artists setting up their easels, and the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur watching over the square.
I researched how the area transforms in autumn, when warm light and colourful leaves blend with the bustle of painters and tourists. The season’s palette, oranges, mustards, ambers and a soft yellow glow, guided my colour choices.
To bring humour and character to the scene, I replaced people with dogs: some painting, others sipping coffee, one even recreating a “dog version” of the Mona Lisa.
Before finalising the piece, I practiced rendering cobblestones to capture the square’s texture and rhythm, a detail that helped ground the illustration in authenticity and warmth.
Looking for whimsical scenery or atmospheric settings for your next children’s book?
I create detailed, story-rich environments that feel alive, from cosy interiors to faraway worlds.
