A Playful Market Full of Color: Carole Barraud’s World

Lyon-based illustrator Carole Barraud took part in Holiyay’s very first puzzle collection, launched in 2024, with her illustration Au marché, featuring a colorful and inviting storefront. A puzzle enthusiast herself, Carole created this image based on what she personally loves about puzzles, while building a composition that is rich, playful, and full of life—for our greatest delight!

As an illustrator, you’ve worked on all kinds of projects. We can see your work in magazines, posters, and cultural or institutional projects. How did your career begin?
I’ve always loved drawing, and I studied graphic design. After a few months working in an agency, I quickly realized it wasn’t for me, so I became a freelance graphic designer. At the same time, I started getting illustration commissions for magazines, and little by little, illustration took over from graphic design in my work.

How would you describe your style? Are there certain subjects or themes you enjoy exploring more than others?
I’d say my style is playful, generous, colorful, and not too serious! I love drawing inspiration from everyday life and its little treasures. I’m also drawn to words that sound good and have strong visual impact, as well as colors and shapes found in the streets. Normally, I prefer very simple illustrations that go straight to the point—but for a puzzle, it’s a bit different. I rely on my personal taste: lots of detail and precision. It needs to be full of activity, with new elements to discover throughout the puzzle! At the same time, I want it to remain accessible and relaxing. My puzzle with Holiyay was the first one I ever created, and it made me very happy, especially since I’m a puzzle lover myself and surrounded by other enthusiasts. Receiving feedback from people who enjoyed my puzzle was incredibly rewarding—I feel like I fulfilled my “puzzlemaker” mission in a way!

Beyond the level of detail and composition, how did you approach creating your illustration for the puzzle? What was the starting idea?
The inspiration for the puzzle actually came from the founders of Holiyay! They had seen my illustration De retour de l’épicerie, a personal project I created in 2022, and asked me to take inspiration from it to design a market storefront. I work with different mediums depending on the project and the time I have. I love using markers and watercolor, but I also work digitally when the visual is more complex or intended for graphic use. For this illustration, I worked digitally.

Even though you use different mediums, do you have any recurring habits or workflows from one project to another?
I don’t really have a strict routine, except that I always start with sketches and write down ideas whenever they come to me. I’d love to begin every day drawing for myself, but since I have a lot of commissioned work, it’s not always easy to make time for personal creativity. Still, it’s essential—it feeds the commissioned work too. It’s a continuous cycle!