Jessica Roux is a Nashville-based illustrator, author, and nature enthusiast. Her clients include the New Yorker, New York Times, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Penguin Random House, among others. Roux also creates books, stationery, and products celebrating her love of nature. In honor of Earth Month, we spoke with Roux about the natural world’s profound impact on her work and practice. 

Shop Jessica Roux prints in NMWA’s Museum Shop. 

If you could step into one of the illustrated worlds you’ve created, what would that experience be like? 

In my work, I try to capture the magic of nature. Stepping into one of my illustrations, you would feel the damp moss beneath your feet, smell the fresh air with hints of blossoming flowers, hear birds chirping and the hooves of deer running past, and sense the adventure that awaits. With many of my works, there is a hint of something brewing below the surface. Something to discover, perhaps a bit dark, but rich with detail and a hint of alchemy. 

How do you incorporate storytelling into your illustrations? 

I’ve always been obsessed with plants and animals. When I was little, my parents set up easels in the backyard, and I’d spend time painting the objects I’d find: sticks, flowers, acorns, feathers, cicada shells. I also always had a lot of pets and still do…[they] inspire me. My interest in history, mythology, and folklore comes from one of my other great hobbies: reading. The stories I’ve come across—from ancient Greek mythology to tales of Mozart’s pet starling to the Victorian language of flowers—hold such magic and intrigue. Both painting and reading provide a way for me to escape into different worlds. I hope my work conveys those environments. 

Do you see illustration as a tool for environmental and conservation awareness?  

Absolutely. I believe illustrators have a social responsibility to spread awareness and inspire action. Every artwork I make is because I deeply love nature, and I am terrified it will disappear within my lifetime. It’s impossible to ignore the devastating environmental changes taking place, which are affecting all living creatures.  

One of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received was from a buyer who, while looking through my portfolio, told me, “I appreciate your dedication to the strange, unusual, and endangered animals.” That really stuck with me. I just love tapirs, axolotls, African wild dogs, and the like. I hope that when people see them, they feel inspired to learn more about them. 

If you could learn directly from a historical period or figure, which era or artist would you choose and why? 

I’d love to learn the art of the medieval illuminated manuscript, take a design class from William Morris, or spend a sunny afternoon at Hill Top Farm with Beatrix Potter. Each holds a special place in my heart—the detail and character in medieval manuscripts, the flowing patterns and color palette of Morris’s Victorian patterns, and Potter’s ability to capture the personality of a creature so perfectly that it practically jumps off the page.

If your work was featured in a museum exhibition, what themes would you want to highlight, and what message would you hope visitors take away? 

I would love to be featured in an exhibition of illustrators who garden that showcases how gardening affects our artwork. Gardening is such an important part of my life and my work, and I know so many fellow artists who find solace among their flower and vegetable patches. My own practice focuses on gardening for mental health. The time spent outdoors digging holes and tending plants directly influences my illustrations and writing. I would hope to inspire visitors to start gardens of their own—whatever the size—and start connecting with the natural world in a new way.