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Chaotic florals and seamless blending, expressing the delicate nature of each flower with elegance and devotion to each petal. Meet Michèle F. Bérard, a Montreal based artist with a vision for colours and the effects of distance. Her use of an airbrush brings a certain charm to her work, blurring the lines between delicateness and precision.
By focusing on the small details in nature, @mf_bae tells a story on the compatibility between chaos and calmness, allowing her audience to experience more than what they see.
Read more to understand Michèle’s creative process, her principles, and see what makes her tick.
Hey Michèle, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background as an artist/creator?
My name is Michèle F. Bérard, I am based in Montréal and I mostly work with painting. Colours are at the centre of my practice and painting has been part of my path for the last 15 years. It has evolved a lot. Painting is a fabulous tool to continuously learn about myself and redefine what I want. It’s a dialogue. It allows me to go where I wouldn't dare to go sometimes.
I’m also behind a picture framing project named Cool Cadre. I frame works by repurposing second-life materials. Cool Cadre stands out for its colour combinations and minimal use of new materials. It’s picture framing but gentle on the environment.
How would you describe your artistic style and influences?
Lately I am thrilled by the idea of the blur. I am exploring the notion of closeness and distance. I look for colour combinations that trigger a feeling of elevation or nostalgia.
I approach colours as a vague place, sometimes comforting, sometimes disturbing. I use fades and gradients to create imaginary floral environments that oscillate between proximity and distance. Like zooming in so close that you don't notice the changes.
Are there any specific themes or messages you wanted to convey through the cover?
I constantly search and think about what amazes me visually. I want to have that visual feeling of surprise when I look at art or anything really. It’s important to me that the imagery I create remains open-ended for the viewer. I want to capture the voluptuous, the feral, the fade.
Did you face any challenges or obstacles while creating the design? If so, how did you overcome them?
Sometimes I think I get a creative block but then I realise I know where I want to go but I'm just not allowing myself to explore that direction. Mainly because I think that it will be uneventful or too literal.
Exploring floral themes has a personal meaning which I wasn’t sure if I was ready to expose to others. There’s a lot of self-permission in having an art practice. Letting go of my own barriers to access what I am chasing is an exercise.
What materials or techniques did you use to bring your design to life?
I mostly work with painting, but to me the real medium is colours. Magic happens when they are diffused and they overlap gently together. For these specific pieces I worked with a paint gun. This tool really allows me to build colour slowly. There’s a dichotomy with this tool because it applies the paint so fast, yet sometimes the nuances changes are very subtle, there’s something slow about airbrushing.
Are there any hidden details or symbolism in your design that you'd like to share with us?
The colour blue has been growing on me. Like, why am I falling in love with it now? I was always there, I could always see it, but it’s just recently that I am feeling deeply for it. I think it means something but I haven’t figured out what it is yet.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists or creators who want to make their mark in the industry?
There’s value even in the tiniest ideas; make room for them, so keep going. Also, being consistent is key regardless of inspiration or your mood. Be kind to yourself.
Are there any other artists or creators who inspire you in your work?
I love the energy of Marmo’s jewelry’s designs. I can’t stop listening to Roisin Murphy music and to look at Raffael Bader’s paintings.
Do you have any favourite Mossery products or designs from other artists that have caught your attention?
Yes! I love the design of Victoria Moey - Summer sweets. I love how it is playful and fresh. I would note down all the dinners I’ve had with my friends. Like some sort of repertoire that captures the moment we shared. A dinner memory storybook rather than a recipe book. My friend is a very good cook and I am a terrible baker. The gap between our skills is always quite entertaining.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the Mossery community and those who appreciate your work?
I feel very lucky to be part of the Mossery community with such inspiring artists. It’s a bit surreal to see my work getting out of the studio like that and into beautiful products. I am currently working on a bigger scale project, and I can’t wait to share those. I am also dreaming of painting on cars, so let’s see where that takes me.
Thank you to Michèle for letting us have her vision on a Mossery cover. We hope her work brings inspiration and beauty to your everyday moments so check out her work with Mossery here/under the Artist section!
