My beautiful hometown in l'Auvergne. This is where I was lucky enough to grow up, amongst hills, forests and creatures - almost everything you will discover in My Magical Oasis. When I was young, I couldn't wait to escape. But the craziness of life as an art student in London was all it took to convince me of the fact that - au contraire! - I am no city girl, as much as I adore the idea of being one. Auvergne is a part of who I am and the only place I will ever call home. My name translates as wild rose, you know, and que sera . . .
My Magical Oasis
Summer time. It makes me want to sketch the way it made Ella Fitzgerald want to sing. Everything at this time is so alive and the colour of precious jewels! It was a real challenge for me to keep the Magical Oasis monochrome, but I know you will all do a great job of adding my favourite rainbow colours - so please do be generous and share your pictures online.
And the autumn, of course, though the colour palette for these months is entirely different. From the time when I began working on My Magical Oasis, I knew that it would have to include a page of falling leaves and each one would be its own perfect thing. Leaves are like snowflakes in that respect, no? I hope that anyone who buys the book will have the most wonderful time colouring them in shades of rusty red and amber - so that it seems like one is setting the world on fire. In a good way, naturally!
The Parc de la tête d'or in Lyon, where I used to visit on special days out with my father, or the beautiful gardens at Kew in London. It's hard to believe that both these parks are so close to the heart of the city, because they are real-life magical oases that I've seen with my own eyes. Honestly, I could pass hours of my life shut away inside the giant glass houses at Kew - that would be my own personal version of paradise. I'm especially fascinated by the orchids that they are growing there. Their tiny petals and intricate, detailed patterns embody exactly the look that I wanted to for my colouring book. Of course, new species of orchids are being discovered every now and again . . . and they have a certain mystique that I find irresistible.
The right soundtrack for the day. Music is so very important to my mood, my work . . . everything! When I was working on My Magical Oasis, I was listening to too much dreamy piano music by Debussy and also my favourite new contemporary band from Paris. They are called Alcest and their singer is named Neige, or 'snow' in English. The songs that they sing are chilled and enchanting, and help me to imagine far-off seashores, where the turtles in My Magical Oasis might like to visit.
My friends, my family, my bad-tempered tabby cat and mon chéri. Lamartine once wrote that the whole world can seem empty without just one special person, and he is never wrong.
Le Petit Prince, my most favourite book in the world, for so many reasons. It taught me that solitude can be beautiful, that pictures can be as expressive as words and that you should never give up on your dreams. Even if people look at your sketch of a snake and see only an unusual-looking hat!
My Magical Oasis by Eglantine de la Fontaine & Various Artists is published by Plexus at £9.99 and is available now.