In the Artist Spotlight: Corinne Michaux
Tell us something about yourself. Who are you? What do you do?
My name is Corinne Michaux. I was born in Belgium and have lived in Austria for over 30 years, formerly in Vienna and now in the Weinviertel region. I'm actually a trained translator, but I've been working in a bookstore for many years.
How did you get into art?
Art was in the air, so to speak - numerous relatives and acquaintances are/were artists or at least art-loving.
I've always been interested in how to draw this and that, how color, perspective, and shading work, how materials behave, how to find inspiration, and whether you can simply do whatever you want, however you want. I started about seven years ago and never stopped.
How did you find your style?
I mainly paint in oil/acrylic or with pastels.
My relatively traditional style actually arises from the tension between idea, skill and materials.
I have experimented a lot in all directions, giving myself the freedom to use up materials but also to recycle them, to apply certain methods or to discard them. For example, in oil painting I do not use solvents and almost only use palette knives.
What is your favorite project?
Always what I'm working on at the moment :-) Seriously, some good pictures came about because I wanted to try something and I can't repeat them.
Do you have any big goals you're working toward with your art? And if so, would you share them with us?
Being famous isn't part of it (just a little bit haha), I want to show my pictures, please the eyes, maybe encourage other people to pick up a pen or a brush :-)
My plans are endless: I'll paint everything I see, even if it makes me happy, at some point, even if it's just the most mundane scenes. A dream project of mine would be a series or even a book about Vienna in pastel.
What would you like to tell people about yourself?
I started painting late and, to be honest, surprised myself. Or maybe not. These days, everything you need is at hand. There are cheap art materials, endless information and tutorials online, and inspiration everywhere. Engaging with art brings me peace, distraction, focus, an island of freedom, and even magic in my everyday life.
Tell us something about your artwork.
The larger painting, "Secret Garden" with the dandelion, represents the magic of spring, the emergence of new life, hope from the darkness, a ray of light in the overgrown garden! It is painted with a palette knife and acrylic paint on panel.
The Rahn House (yellow image) is a derelict, partially revitalized former mansion of the Rahn industrial family in Rosice, Czech Republic. I love forgotten places, and the contrast of light and shadow in the courtyard was particularly inspiring. Acrylic with palette knife on paper.
Kellergasse (Up my Alley) is a typical, picturesque view of the cellar lanes in the Weinviertel region, a magical play of light and shadow in summer! Oil with palette knife on canvas.
60s tram, a homage to the unique, great Viennese public transport <3 Acrylic with palette knife on canvas.
What is your relationship with coffee?
The elixir of life, always and everywhere! For me, it's a medicine. I prefer it black, neat, not too bitter. Cappuccino works in a pinch, too, and I've had my latte days!
I recently tried an amazing cold brew at Kaffemik, it broadened my horizons!