Interview with French illustrator Jocelin Carmes

Every year, ArianeGroup selects artists to portray the company’s universe and its launchers. Jocelin Carmes kicks off this series

@Jocelin Carmes

In the past year, freelance illustrator and concept artist Jocelin Carmes has been a real hit on Instagram. While he uses light and proportion in a realistic way, the elements and colors that come into play are a product of his vivid imagination.

Can you tell us about how you chose the scene for your illustration?

I submitted several proposals to ArianeGroup. They selected this one, which portrays a launch as seen by onlookers from the ground. My intention here was to convey the magical, aspirational aspect of space exploration as, for example, from a child’s perspective.

What do ArianeGroup and space in general represent to you?

ArianeGroup represents Europe and its know-how with regard to worldwide advancements in space exploration. As I mentioned, my take on space is that it’s like a fantasy realm. I keep up to date with the latest news about French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and I watch a lot of documentaries and programs about the universe, black holes, that sort of thing. I find all that fascinating.

What did your artistic collaboration with ArianeGroup entail?

My projects always include an initial research phase. It ensures that the work I’m commissioned to do is more precise. So, I began by doing finding on ArianeGroup and its launchers.

What purpose do the characters in your illustrations serve?

The characters mostly help me to portray scale and proportion. I really like the sense of nostalgia that a lone character in an illustration emanates, such as the astrophotographer in this piece.

You seem to draw inspiration from many sources. How does this affect your creative process?

I visualize the scene, in particular when I’m doing research on the subject, prior to working on the illustration. I want people who look at my work to imagine themselves in the setting. A lot of my inspiration comes from the cinema, from photography, and from other artists.

What are your pop culture references when it comes to space?

Science fiction is very inspiring. Recently, I’ve also been strongly influenced by Thomas Pesquet! I absolutely love his Instagram feed; his photos from the International Space Station are amazing. They really set my imagination on fire!

By the way, do you have a dream regarding space?

Obviously, I would love to witness a live launch. And better yet, travel into space!

Check out Jocelin Carmes’ work in our shop’s exclusive collection:

and on Instagram, on Artstation, on Behance or on Twitter.