Maite Gurrutxaga
Illustrator
Amezketa, Spain
Recommended by Paolo Rui
Depictions of Basque's quiet wonder
- Maite specialises in traditional illustrative techniques
- Her pieces are commissioned by publishers, institutions and organisations
- Her watercoloured mountains, trees and characters reflect her own landscape
Maite Gurrutxaga is a Basque illustrator whose work is a vibrant reflection of the natural surroundings of her home in Amezketa. “Green is a colour I always return to in my illustrations,” she says. Maite studied fine arts in Bilbao in 2005 and specialised in illustration at Escola de la Dona in Barcelona in 2009. She develops her work in Euskera, often collaborating with her brother Mikel to help preserve their mother tongue. While she specialises in children's picture books, Maite also illustrates magazines, posters and album covers. Her sequential narratives are brought to life through traditional analogue techniques, such as gouache, watercolour and ink. “I treasure working with my drawing tools. They are an essential and inspiring part of my process," Maite says. "I doubt I will ever turn to the digital world."
INTERVIEW
I inherited my parents' sharp attention to detail. This sensitivity for observation was shaped by long walks in nature: mushroom foraging is now a favourite ritual. My mother had an extensive library, and my siblings were avid readers, especially the eldest, with whom I have created several books. My youngest brother's love for comics later informed the sequential narratives in my work.
A personal need for order defines the initial phase of my creative process. I carefully consider and draw forms before I apply colour in gouache or watercolour. Colours are chosen to support the specific storyline and tone of each project, ensuring that every palette carries a clear intention within the story.
I am interested in the impulses and questions that give rise to an author's stories. My role is to interpret the text, identifying threads that connect the collective imaginary, the author’s world and my own through illustration. I approach this process through layered narratives, using depth and sequence to bring different dimensions to the storytelling.
I am drawn to how picture books merge text and image to create a unique space, shaped by both. I am particularly interested in wordless books, where images alone carry meaning, and in playfully deceptive books where words and images deliberately diverge. Authors and illustrators share a responsibility to offer readers a coherent foundation for imagination and interpretation.
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