Michel Canetti at Bastille Day Festival 2015

Celebrated in France as one of the leading fashion illustrators, Michel Canetti has been in the business for a very long time. His creativity and deep insight into fashion has enabled him to work with some of the world’s most elite fashion houses and magazines. His work celebrates feminine beauty and perfectly encapsulates style the feeling of grace and elegance with aplomb.

“Women have always been my inspiration. Even before becoming an illustrator, I always  admired the shape of a woman’s body.”

Meeting Michel Canetti at Bastillle Day French Festival 2015 was like bumping into an old friend, the extremely humble Canetti was kind enough to personally show some of his most brilliant and exquisite works. In the midst of the chaotic setting, with strong aromatic Chèvre and Bourgogne, and of course, muffled bursts of French music in the background, we talked about his inspiration, celebrated art and past work at L’Officiel Paris.

How did you get started in the field?

“I started illustrating professionally in 1981. I was doing airbrush in the beginning, but I changed [my medium] to get a more personal style.”

When did you realise illustrations could be more than a hobby and an actual career?

“I always painted for myself. Professionally, I did work for Club Med as a set designer, which is also mainly paintings, and then I decided to be an illustrator. I don’t know exactly why because I didn’t really know what it was all about.”

 What was your very first illustration?

“My first illustrations were airbrush illustrations for CD covers and for magazines, but one of my first interesting commissions in fashion illustration was for L’Officiel Paris.”

What is your inspiration and what shapes your style?

“Women have always been my inspiration. Even before being an illustrator, I always admired the shape of a woman’s body. I think I am not the only one. What I like particularly are the lines. I try in every brush stoke to have the same beauty. I want to have every brush stroke beautiful by itself, like the line of the hips or a leg. My work requires a delicate balance between creativity and control, mixing together flowing rounded curves and sharp sophisticated details. ”

Your editorial illustration focuses primarily on women, is it your style or just an organised process? 

“I also illustrated men when I worked for Vogue Hommes, and sometimes I do objects such as perfumes etc.”

Who is your muse?

“I do not have one muse, I like different woman. If I have to choose only one, it would be Brigitte Bardot, the most beautiful woman in the world. For my paintings I use different models.”

You have collaborated with some of the most elite fashion brands; can you please shed some light on that?

“I have worked with famous fashion brands but in diverse fields. I have worked for Chanel but only for the makeup. I have worked for Estée Lauder for different customer gifts products, and the New Year’s wishes movie. I have worked for L’Oréal for hair products and deodorant packagings, Dior for makeup, Shinsegae for catalogues, Galeries Lafayette for ads in newspapers, Schwartzkopf for hair products, Paco Rabanne for perfume, Guerlain for catalogues, Newman Marcus for ads etc…I also worked for Vogue, Elle, Spruce, Glamour, Joyce, Le Figaro etc…I also worked for a lot of brands outside fashion: Renault, Credit Lyonnais, Air France, Aeroports de Paris, Polygram, Shu Uemura, Waterman, Cadbury, YKK, De Beers, Kerastase for hair products, Orlane, etc.”

You and L’Officiel go way back, how was your experience?

“I did work for L’Officiel Paris in 1985. It was an interesting experience. I had to paint the models on paper backgrounds, the photographer then shot the model in front of the painting as soon as the illustration was finished. I had to be quick and couldn’t have a second go….but we were happy with the result.” (Michel Canetti is seen drawing the illustration on the wall in the above picture.)

How critical are you of your work, and how do you keep your pot of ideas bubbling?

“When I work in illustrations I am quite critical. I want every line to be in the right place and then every brush stroke to be elegant. Sometimes it works immediately, sometimes I do more than 10 illustrations to get the right one, and sometimes it doesn’t work…Often the best illustrations come at the first try.”

What is the best part of your job?

“To do something I like to do. The pleasure you get when you know you did something good. It doesn’t happen all the time.”

What are your future plans? Any major or personal projects you are working on?

“I am working as an illustrator, but also as a painter on canvas, so I always have projects for new paintings, new exhibitions etc… Also I do some limited editions, and I work with some poster companies too.”

-Interview with Michel Canetti by Jay Joshi

-Photos by Jay Joshi unless otherwise stated