Carmine Magazine

Carmine Magazine: How would you define your style?
Marie-Josée: My style is figurative and illustrative. It is a mix of whimsical, magical, folkish and just a tiny bit creepy. I am actually in the process of uncovering it. After years of trying to emulate things I liked and doing endless school projects, I have taken a stance against my own habits and embraced my style. It is truly amazing for me to see it unfold paintings after paintings.

CM: What things inspire and influence you and your artwork?
MJ: Anything and everything. But first and foremost: stories. Any kind of stories really, but especially folk tales, myths and fairy tales. I am also influences by nature and colors. Sometimes I start a painting with just a specific color scheme in my mind.

CM: Do you listen to music when you create? Describe your perfect creative work environment.
MJ: I have to listen to music. I often put an artist or make a playlist that fits the mood I am trying to reproduce. I can paint in any kind of environment, I had to get use to it, since I’ve always live in small spaces with people…but I dream of having my own studio one day. Just a room with pictures on the walls and a huge window that would let natural light in.

CM: What mediums do you work in the most? Why do you use them?
MJ: I use acrylics and markers. Painting has always been my medium of choice. So I use it out of habit and love. I learned painting with oils, but switched to acrylics out of commodity due to the small spaces mentioned above and the fact that I always have to pack all my stuff every time I’m finished with a session.
I took photography classes in university and I hope that one day I will be able to further my knowledge of the medium.

CM: Name a few of your favorite artists.
MJ: The list is sooo long! I like Golden Age illustrators like Arthur Rackham, Gustave Doré, Jessie Wilcox Smith and others. I am in love with Art Nouveau artits, especially Mucha and Toulouse-Lautrec. Picasso, Pollock, Van Gogh…oh I’m sure I am forgetting so many. I also like contemporary artists/illustrator like Fuco Ueda and Audrey Kawasaki, Amy Sol. Also Kiki Smith . And more.

CM: If there was one style of art that you could take up what would it be?
MJ: Art Nouveau. And I wish I was better at drawing so I could be an illustrator….

Find Marie-Josée’s work at these places on the web:
Flickr
endofmarch at Livejournal

Some artwork from Marie-Josée: