We were long overdue for a little "update" with Valery! While we regularly share their Lalita's Art Shop updates, artworks, and projects on social media, it has been two years since we directly connected to share what's happening with our artists who have been part of our creative team for several years! So, let's shine the spotlight on our residents again!

For the fourth consecutive year, we are thrilled to collaborate with Valéry Goulet for our latest collection! An illustrator, designer, and university teacher, Valéry has a plethora of talents and tools at her disposal. Our Quebecois artist, now based in Alberta, excels in interaction design and has a mastery of color. We are delighted to invite you to explore her creative universe!

Hello Valery, can you introduce yourself for those who don’t know you yet?

Hello! I’m Valery Goulet, a freelance professional specializing in graphic design and illustration. I also teach design as a sessional instructor at the University of Alberta and MacEwan University in Edmonton, where I reside. Today, I’m excited to launch a new collection of beanies and multifunctional tubes for the upcoming season.

You recently illustrated the children's book "Remember This" written by Monique Polak. Can you tell us more about this project?

Absolutely! Illustrating children's books is a type of project I particularly love. This latest book, published last March, is aimed at young readers wanting to learn more about the theme of memory. My illustrations in this book accompany and enrich the texts by exploring different aspects of this fascinating subject. It was truly a very interesting and rewarding project to work on.

What was the biggest challenge you faced while illustrating this book? And what did you enjoy the most about this project?

The biggest challenge for this book was meeting the production deadlines, especially with over forty illustrations to create. This often meant long weeks and weekends of intensive work, particularly when the project coincided with my teaching commitments during the fall and winter sessions. What I enjoyed most about this project was exploring and illustrating complex concepts about memory in a way that is accessible and engaging for young readers. It was incredibly satisfying to see how my illustrations could help illuminate and enrich the text.

Do you have any upcoming children's book illustration projects, and what do you enjoy the most about illustrating for young readers?

Yes, I’m currently working on a children's picture book in collaboration with the publishing house La Grande Marée in New Brunswick. The title of the book is *Balbu the Osprey*. For this particular project, I had to imagine a world inspired by the beaches of New Brunswick and create characters, including beautiful ospreys. What I love most about illustrating children's books is the creative freedom and the opportunity to tell stories visually. I love being able to transport young readers into imaginary worlds and see them marvel at the illustrations. It’s an incredibly enriching and stimulating process that allows me to explore without limits.

We’re very proud to have you featured once again in our new collection. Can you tell us a bit about the designs, Symmetrical Grey and Pattern X, that you created for us?

I’m delighted, as I love creating designs that people will wear. When creating my designs, I try to imagine who will wear them and the types of activities they will do while wearing these accessories. I also draw inspiration from what I would like to wear and see on the market. For the Symmetrical Grey and Pattern X designs, I wanted to create something that adds a unique and elegant touch to everyday outfits. I also aimed to design something that suits people who are less attracted to very colorful and exuberant patterns. I hope these creations will be appreciated and will accompany people on their various adventures.

Can you tell us a bit about your upcoming projects?

Although this year has been a bit quieter than previous ones, I have several exciting projects coming up. I’m particularly enthusiastic about presenting an illustration project for an air quality monitoring station for Alberta Capital Airshed. As mentioned earlier, I’m also working on a book to be launched this fall, and I’m collaborating with an agency on creating holiday items (yes, we work on that in the summer). In this field, there are often confidential projects that I can’t reveal yet, but I invite you to check out my work on my website: Valery Goulet 

To be the first to know about my new projects, you can subscribe to my newsletter: Pencil Booth.