Our team met Francesca Capellini during the open doors of the artist’s studios which took place in Montreuil in October 2012. Francesca participated in the Very small, small, small Christmas market organized by the Art2rives association and she is part of the team of the Montreuil en expos event.
– A2R: Can you tell us about your training?
– FC: “I started with a theoretical formation in arts, I studied history of Arts for 5 years and I have been graduated in History of Arts at the University of Bologna.
After I took a degree in animation in Bristol and I worked for several years in an animation studio in Turin in Italy.
And at the age of 28 I decided to study illustration for 3 years at the European Institute of Design in Turin.
In fact I started to draw very late but it was my big dream and I was very happy to succeed in it! »
Translation :
I started my course with a theoretical training in the arts, I studied the history of the arts for 5 years and I graduated in History of Art at the University of Bologna. Subsequently I validated a degree in animation in Bristol and I worked for several years in an animation studio in Turin, Italy. At the age of 28 I decided to study illustration for 3 years at the European Institute of Design in Turin, in fact I started drawing quite late, but it was my big dream and I was very happy to achieve this!
– A2R: Can you tell us about your sources of inspiration? Can you start by telling us about the creations you presented at the Tout petit, petit, petit christmas market?
– FC: “Basically comes from what I like: I love magazines, I love old children’s books, I love fleah markets, I love vintage pottery and vintage patterns,
I love american indie style but also the asian retro.
I love to collect old photos and to give them a new life, like if all these people where part of an imaginary family. I love to observe the houses of the others during my night walks”.
Translation :
My inspiration comes mainly from what I love: I love magazines, I love old children’s books, I love Fleah markets . I love vintage pottery and vintage patterns. I like the American indie style , but also the Asian retro. I like to unearth old photos and give them a new life, as if all these people were part of an imaginary family. I like to observe other people’s houses during my nocturnal walks…
– A2R: You also collaborate with the newspaper Corriere della Sera , can you come back to the nature of this collaboration?
– FC: “I am an official illustrator for the Sunday Book Review of the Corriere della Sera. I feel a big responsibility because it’s the national newspaper of Italy. I have to work every week for making an illustration about an article of literature”.
Translation :
I am the official illustrator of the “Book Review” section of the Sunday edition of Corriere della Sera . I feel invested with an important responsibility because this is the Italian national newspaper. I have to work every week to make an illustration for a literary criticism article.
– A2R: It also seems to me that you have editorial projects, can you give us more details?
– FC: “In my near future I really would like to improve much more my work for magazines and newspapers. I want to find an agent for that and I have to prepare two books for children for an italian and a belgian publisher.
I am starting a new collection of bags and t-shirts.
What I would really want most is to go in a wonderful Spa in the mountain and to relax, hopefully for all the rest of my life!! (I’m joking)”.
Translation :
In the near future, I would really like to improve and develop my collaborations with magazines and newspapers. I would like to find an agent and I have to prepare two children’s books for an Italian publisher and another Belgian one. I’m starting a new collection of bags and T-shirts.
What I really want is to be able to relax in a magnificent spa in the mountains for the rest of my life!
