Artist Cécile Dormeau on why she loved designing t-shirts together with Indonesian school kids

When art meets activism, creativity knows no bounds. Artist Cécile Dormeau: is one of those artists whose goal is to change the way we see women. Cécile Dormeau: “Some girls are skinny, others are fat, some girls have big bellies, some girls have small boobs, and sometimes we are hairy. Yes, it’s normal to have flaws. Yes, it’s normal that we all don’t look the same. The more we will say this to people, the more we will move forward towards self-acceptance.” Therefore we are very proud to announce to you that we’ve teamed up with Cecile on a brand new Face This art collab! Read along to find out more!

Face This: Can you tell us something about your cultural background? Where did you grow up? Did you always like to draw?

Cécile Dormeau: I grew up in the parisian suburb and was a very shy kid, so drawing was helping me to feel safe in my own world.

Face This: Is there one drawing that you can recall from your childhood? What was it about?

Cécile Dormeau: The first thing that came to my mind was drawing a zoo, very colorful. And I also did a drawing for my swimming teacher, Robert. I drew him with green hair and wrote « Robert a les cheveux verts » for the rhyme (it means Robert has green hair). I loved drawing people, especially my parents and sisters. And animals as well.

Art by Cécile Dormeau

Face This: Are there specific moments in your life that made you decide to become an artist?

Cécile Dormeau: Drawing was always a way to express myself, so I’ve always been an artist even if no one was seeing it or I wasn’t living from it. I did art school, but was struggling to find a job. I was unemployed and an intern in two different graphic design agencies. Then I got my first job in an advertising agency, where I was unhappy. When I was unemployed again after this experience, and no agency wanted me, I decided to give a try to an illustration career, and I was very lucky.

Face This: What is the biggest challenge for you, being an artist?

Cécile Dormeau: I would like my art to be like a virtual hug for people. I would like that people feel touched and understood by my art, and help them laugh about their insecurities.

Face This: As an artist, do you have any dreams? Are there some goals you would like to achieve? Is there something you’re building up for?

Cécile Dormeau: A graphic novel is in my dreams list, I hope it will come true!! 

Face This: Pablo Picasso once said: ‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up’. How do you remain an artist? And do you have tips for non-artists to cultivate their inner child?

Cécile Dormeau: I think it’s about not taking yourself too seriously, and making things that make you happy, it can be very simple. I bought glitter glue the other day. That made my inner child happy.

Face This: You designed an artwork by using some of our Indonesian childrens drawings. With the proceeds of your artwork, we will be able to provide the kids you’ve collabed with a playground. How important is playfulness for you as an artist?

Cécile Dormeau: I always try to find playfulness in my art, even if sometimes I speak about subjects who are not really playful, I always try to put humor in it.

The Cécile Dormeau x Face This collab is available on tees and a sweater. Pic by Jesse Kroon/4eyes 

Face This: When we reached out to you, what made you want to join?

Cécile Dormeau: I’m happy to participate in a project that can help children’s education, and working with children’s drawings is an honor!

Face This: When you received the drawings, what was your first reaction? What did you see in them? Can you describe them a bit for us?

Cécile Dormeau: I was amazed to see all the creativity. I found them very touching, to see the difference of styles to represent people and faces was really great, and I loved all the birds and fishes.

Face This: Which drawings did you use to create your artwork with? And why did you pick these?

Cécile Dormeau: I couldn’t choose only one so I played around with all the characters I preferred, and tried to stay faithful to the children’s styles and shapes, because this is where all the charm of the illustrations come from.

Face This: Can you tell us something about how you have experienced this collaboration? Have you learnt something from working with the kids’ drawings? Did the way the drawings were made inspired you in some way? 

Cécile Dormeau: I think it’s always inspiring to see how kids represent people. I remember the drawings a kid did with only two long arms. I loved that one so much, it gives a new perspective from the human’s body. I also loved all the birds they draw, seeing how they draw their everyday’s life, the people around them in their imagination, the bike seems very interesting to me.

Face This: To conclude, is there something you would like to say to the kids who made the drawings you’ve worked with?

Cécile Dormeau: Your drawings are absolutely wonderful so please keep drawing!