FrenchEntrée Magazine Interview – “Life’s a Doodle” Illustrator Ian Marsden in the Hérault
FrenchEntrée Magazine Interview – “Life’s a Doodle” Illustrator Ian Marsden in the Hérault
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In the January/February 2015 issue of FrenchEntrée Magazine, I was featured in a full-page profile titled “Life’s a Doodle,” written by journalist Sylvia Davis. The article offers an in-depth look at my personal and professional journey as an illustrator, cartoonist, and designer — from my early years working in California to establishing a creative life and studio in southern France.
From California to the South of France
The article traces my path from Santa Monica, CA, where I worked with companies like Google and early internet ventures, to settling in a small village in the Hérault region of Languedoc. My decision to relocate was motivated by a desire for peace, space, and a creative environment where I could focus on illustration and animation projects away from urban distractions.
The feature captures how inspiration often comes from my immediate surroundings — quiet hills, vineyards, and the Mediterranean light — and how this new pace of life has enhanced my creativity and productivity.
Highlights from the Interview
In the interview, I reflect on adapting to life in France, managing bureaucracy, and running a digital illustration studio rin a small wine village. I also shared some personal stories — like discovering my house didn’t have internet on the day I moved in, the rooms all had sockets – but the house was not connected – or being invited to be a judge in a Carthagene tasting concours at the village fête and not understanding that you are supposed to spit it out each time.
Despite such hiccups, the interview emphasizes how the move offered a balance I had long been searching for: creative fulfillment, personal peace, and strong connections with both international clients and local culture.
Work Featured
FrenchEntrée Magazine mentions some of the milestone projects from my career, including:
- Creating early Google Doodles in 1999–2000
- Working with major international clients like Wacom and Metro
- Publishing editorial cartoons and illustrations
- Developing animated explainer videos and storyboards
A Portrait of Creative Life
“Life’s a Doodle” is ultimately more than a career retrospective — it’s a portrait of how lifestyle and setting can deeply shape an artist’s vision and output. I appreciated the opportunity to share how my work is tied to both my past experience and the present rhythm of life in the South of France.
For more information on the projects mentioned or to explore recent creative work, visit the main site: marsdenillustration.com
Contact:
[email protected]
