We interviewed Billy Chevannes, the artist we collaborated on the 'Miami Montage' piece with to see what inspires him and to see where he gets his inspiration. Read on to learn more about this incredibly talented artist from the Netherlands...
When did you decide you wanted to be an artist?
I’m afraid I did not have anything to decide... When I grew up my mother was a fashion designer, my father worked as a scientific researcher specialized in the painter Paul Gauguin. I learned to draw women and fashion at kinderkarten age.
How did you develop your style?
It’s a result of many years of being interested in elegance, style, fashion and women.
In the 80’s and 90’s my girl friend and I started a lingerie label, not based on any commercial ideas but purely on the fusion of our talents and love. Our lingerie was hand made from re-used 2nd hand materials that were hard to find. (we lived in the era of denim). As ‘deLuxe hippies’ we travelled all over Europe to find and buy long forgotten fabrics.
Who or what were you inspired by?
(see above ;))
Art Deco period fabrics and design, streamlined cars (Citroen SM), 60’s ‘Atomic Style’, Dior, Brigitte Bardot…
How would you describe your design style?
‘A touch of Elegance’…
What platforms/mediums do you go to for inspiration? Films? Books? Pinterest?
Travel light, live light and work light. I swapped (almost) all of my books for the unlimited book shelfs of Pinterest
Any advice?
Wear a scarf like Marylin Monroe would have done…
