“My paintings are an invitation to pause for a moment, look at the details, and immerse yourself. It is also about realising how beautiful and free that meditative moment is, when there is only you and this painting with all its colours, flowing movements and details.”
Michèle loves her freedom in artistic expression; this is also why she decided to pursue art full-time after working as a fashion and graphic designer. Passionate about art since childhood, Michèle wants to create positive emotions in her viewers with her art, drawing them to pause momentarily and lose themselves.
Using resin as one of her main materials, Michèle embraces its fluid and translucent materiality and uses it to her advantage in creating mesmerising layers and depth. Though the material cannot be entirely predetermined, the slight randomness often comes as a pleasant surprise that makes each piece unique.
Q. Were you already interested in art from a young age? What kind of art pursuit have you tried when you were younger and what led you to study fashion design?
Since I was very young, I have been interested in art. I have always painted. I started with wax and watercolour painting until I attended the municipal art school in my youth. There I did realistic painting with acrylics. Wonderful places from my imagination.
After my A-levels, I knew I wanted to study something creative, but what exactly was not entirely clear. Fashion design was somehow more tangible than art. At that time, it was also a question of what kind of education would give you good chances on the job market, so it became fashion design. Art was my passion and has been with me all my life.
Q. How do you think your background and education in fashion design contributed to your art today?
My fashion design studies were characterised by creativity. They covered a wide range of areas that shaped my sense of colour, form and composition.
It started with the development of abstract forms, the exploration of materials, the art classes where I found my style and the colour compositions. So during my time at art school and studying fashion design, I could work very freely and creatively and develop my own style.
After graduating, I started my own fashion label. But I sold it after 2.5 years and then worked as a graphic designer for a year. But it didn't fulfil me. I quit my job and decided to start my own business again, but this time I followed my passion as an artist. Since the end of 2017, I have been working full-time as an artist and I am infinitely happy.
Q. Could you tell us why did you choose to stop your fashion design career and go into the art and design realms?
That's an easy question, of course. I lacked freedom for creativity and my personal style. Studying fashion design was creative and free, but the job was not. I didn't feel free even when I had my own fashion label. All the designs were based on previous sales; you were limited by the fabric suppliers' colour cards and, of course, prices.
As art and painting have been with me all my life, I got to the point where I thought I'd give it a go. I am now following my dream and pursuing my passion, where I can be completely free and creative.
Q. You stated that you want to create emotion with art. Could you elaborate on how you understand this sentence and how you achieve it?
Art can be different; it can be political, provocative or confusing. However, I want my art to create emotion, and positive emotion at that. My paintings are an invitation to pause for a moment, look at the details, and immerse yourself. To get lost in the colour gradients, to discover new details again and again, to let minutes pass by, to forget time, to put aside problems, fears and worries for a moment - art is allowed to do that, yes, I think art should do that. It is also about realising how beautiful and free that meditative moment is, when there is only you and this painting with all its colours, flowing movements and details.
Q. How do you think each piece of your artwork differs from one another?
Well, every work of art is unique and, of course, different. Because I work with colour in a fluid way, there is always a certain component that I cannot influence. I can control the composition and see which colour dominates where. Still, because I pour the different colours into each other and then apply them over a large area, there is always a random component that I can react to and influence but cannot determine in advance.
Q. Could you share with us your process of creating each artwork?
When I start a new painting, I start with a sketch, a drawing. This is where I sketch out the basic shape of the painting. Whether round, angular or in abstract, amorphous forms like in my SHAPES series.
I do colour tests, see which colour I want to combine with which, and sketch a composition. Then I mix the resin. I pour the clear, transparent resin into different cups and mix the individual colours. Then the actual painting process begins. My paintings are laid out on a large table. Here, I pour the different colours onto my aluminium base. I use a torch and heat gun to create gradients.
When the first layer is ready, I let it dry for two days and then pour the next layer of pure transparent resin. Then, it is left to dry for another two days before I can apply another layer of paint on top of the transparent layer.
However, I only paint parts of the entire surface because I want the layer underneath to show through. Depending on the painting, the number of layers varies from 3 to 6. It all depends on how I feel when the painting is finished.
Q. Why do you choose to work with resin art? Is there any particular personalities of the material that attracts you?
I love the way the material behaves. The process of painting with this medium is so exciting and fulfilling. Watching how the colours mix together and yet stay on their own and how they work when you apply the next layer is simply absorbing for me.
Resin gives me the opportunity to work in different layers that show the evolution of the work.
I love the depth of these paintings. If you look closely, you can see the layers underneath; depending on the angle, you can always discover new details. The glassy look is also fascinating. I am intrigued by the process of the medium, which goes from silky matt during production to crystal clear after hardening.
Q. Since you are involved in many artistic mediums (painting, interior art, fashion design), do you have one that is your favourite?
That is definitely the art. This is where I can be as free as possible. I love experimenting with different materials, developing new series, my daily work in the studio, the meditative moment when the painting is painted, the re-examination the next day, and the process of creating a picture itself, I love the moment when the finished painting hangs on the wall and simply works for itself. I love the moment when it has found a loving collector and I know that he/she can now enjoy it every day.
Q. Where do you usually draw inspiration from?
I am inspired by everything. A lot from nature but also architecture, interior design and fashion. Unusual shapes or combinations of things, materials, contrasts and colour combinations. Everything I come across.
Often it's the little moments in everyday life, starting with cloud formations passing by or moss growing on a stone wall. The sound of raindrops falling into a puddle. The play of light and shadow on a wall. It is as if I collect a lot of impressions, and in a tranquil moment, especially before going to bed, when my eyes are closed, and I have no more input from outside, a new idea comes to me, and then I have to work on it immediately, the next morning I go straight to the studio and start experimenting with my new idea. This experimentation leads to a new series.
Q. Do you have a proudest piece of artwork to share?
There is no artwork that I love more than all the others. Whenever I finish a painting, my love is the greatest, and I am delighted when it finds a collector who makes it happy. And then I’d love to start a new one. Each work has a lot of love, time, and positive energy.
Q. Could you describe your work in 3 words?
Calming, attracting, fulfilling
