Agnès Lefèvre EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
French artist and illustrator Agnes Lefevre is renowned for her lively, colorful depictions of the details of everyday life. Born in Paris, she has been a freelance artist for many years and has showcased her works in galleries across France and Europe. The distinctive style of Lefevre's artwork is characterized by its use of rich hues, strong structures, and dynamic strokes. Her paintings typically focus on the intricate emotions that people share with each other while her drawings illustrate the peculiarities that underlie mundane life in an amusing way. She takes advantage of various mediums ranging from oil to acrylic to collage when creating these entrancing scenes.
“I like when my paintings are entirely composed through my creative process. I enjoy taking my time and creating multiple sets of photos to make sure each subject, for example, a macaron crumb, is in its right place.”
Creating photorealistic artwork takes a tremendous amount of technical mastery. How does your creative process unfold and how long do you typically spend on completing one piece?
I use the very old squaring technique. Each painting takes me at least three weeks to one month for a simple piece and up to three months for a more complicated one, and now, I try to spend even more time on each piece, for better pictorial quality.
Prior to beginning the painting process, capturing reference images of your subject matter is essential. Why is it crucial for these photographs to be taken personally?
I like when my paintings are entirely composed through my creative process. I enjoy taking my time and creating multiple sets of photos to make sure each subject, for example, a macaron crumb, is in its right place. But my creative journey might change, because I am planning to paint more portraits, and I am not sure that I will have the skill to take good photos of people. This is where I am creatively right now, trying to organize myself for this new adventure.
When it comes to painting, oil colors are usually your go-to. Do these work best for what your artistic vision is or do other mediums also have a place in your creative process?
When I started painting, I tried varied mediums, and finally, I made the choice of oil paint. I chose this medium because it is the medium of the Great Masters. I like the vivid colours of acrylic paint but it is a very different technique. I might feel inspired to try acrylic one day.
Having been formally trained in Paris, it is no surprise that much of your artwork displays a deep connection to the beauty and culture of the city. How does living in such an inspiring place influence your creativity?
Paris is my home, with most of my memories, happy or sad, so I have a very strong connection with this city. I also feel that it is more practical to work with what surrounds and inspires me daily.
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