AN INTERVIEW WITH ANGELINE MELIN
French illustrator, Angeline Melin has only a SMALL addiction for fashion. Or so she says. With Louboutin and Balenciaga as her fashion mentors, she finally admits that fashion is a big part of her life. A passion for drawing has led her to study in an arts school for three years and after that, she graduated from the Studio Bercot, a French fashion school in Paris. Angeline combines the art and the latest fashion trends to create sassy lil characters. Currently, she does illustrations for books, press, advertisements and websites. 
How long have you been blogging?
I’m blogging since September 2007, a little over a year. It started quite recent actually!
I decided to open my own personal page on internet in order to show my illustrations to other people and to share it. But at beginning, only a few friends knew my website, so I had about 30 hits per day, and that isn’t a lot. But the internet is an easy way and very practical way to communicate what you want with lots of people: so fast, with no frontier. That’s why I chose this communication support.
Currently, are you working as a fashion designer?
Not yet! I just finished three years in Studio Berçot, a fashion school in Paris, and I spent one year making work placements for fashion magazines, with photographers and stylists, or others with shoe designers, such as Bruno Frisoni (who I would like to work more with in the future). Another is in the costuming area of Disneyland Paris and I did a lot of worked for the runway shows during Parisians fashion week too. This year has been a very big experience in fashion for me. But now, I’m planning to become a full-time illustrator.
Do you always have a flair for drawing when you were young?
I have always loved to draw and have been fascinated by drawings, art, paintings and so on.
Your illustration is quite unique, is this a technique you learned or something that you create yourself?
Yes, in fact I learned lots of different techniques to draw during my studies. But I can’t say that I learned this technique, because it’s quite personal to me. And if I did that in fashion school, I’m sure they would tell me that it’s not good: unproportionate legs, too skinny … So I made other characters to illustrate my fashion collections.
But one technique from my first year in art that I kept is the way I make my illustrations in colour: I use professional pens (Pentone), which are printer colours. It’s quite difficult to use it and we had to take lots of lessons just on that. But I really enjoyed the result, so I continue to employ it.
How long do you need to come up with one illustration?
I can’t really tell you how long I take for one, because it really depends of the size and the details. My inspiration at that moment is crucial too: if I’m not inspired, it can take me a long time to do it; but on the other hand, if I feel inspired, I can do it really quickly. Maybe, in average, an illustration takes like one hour. Because there are 5 different steps: 1- The sketch. 2- Do it in ink. 3- Do it in colour. 4- Scan it in computer. 5- “Wash” it in photoshop. And that’s all.
Where do you find your inspirations?
I get my inspirations from everywhere and everything! Generally, it’s from each moment that I live, or from something I’m about to do. I can pick up inspiration in some words that I’ve read in an article, in a photo or photographer’s work, or in the mood I am. It can be from something simple too, like a pair of shoes, a colour, a word, a character…
Are the illustrations or character a depiction of yourself?
Yes, it is! The blonde woman I always draw is a caricature of myself (with some differences of course but it’s still me). So as I told you before, a lot of illustrations in my blog are actual moments.
Are you thinking of becoming a full time illustrator?
I am! I just hope could continue to be and have much more professional projects to do. I just have to cross my fingers!
How is working life in Paris?
Working life in Paris is a great experience! Paris is a city that is beautiful and stressful, but at the same time exciting and tiring. Seriously, it’s a great city to see lots of exhibitions, to meet people, and of course working in fashion. It’s easier here as compated to any other city in France!
Is it tough to make a career there?
I really don’t know! I know what I’m about to say is a cliché, but one thing is sure, fashion has a hard and cruel background! You really have to love it at all to work in this industry, or it will kill you! But I love it, so yes; I want to make my career here. However, as I am a freelancer, I can work where ever I want. If I ever get the opportunity to go somewhere like in London, Spain or America, I’ll say yes!
Are there other illustrators there like you?
Oh yes! A lot! Some coming from older generations, some are like me. But for me, the great and famous precursor of this is Mr Edmond Kiraz! I was very lucky to meet him and show him my work, it was a great honour! He makes illustrations with female characters called “the parisiennes”, and inspired many women’s life in Paris.
What are you working on right now?
Right now, I’m working on a new future website which sells clothings and accessories, “Amelie boutique”. I also have illustrated a book regarding fashion addicts called “ Les tortures de la mode” (The Torture of Fashion), written by a fashion journalist Caroline De Surany, which is now available in bookshops. I have some other little projects too. But in the future, I intend to make my own book with my illustrations; so I try to work on it when I have time. I’m currently searching for an editor for it.
Who is your favourite designer?
If you ask me about shoe designers, I will answer, Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin and Bruno Frisoni for Roger Vivier. And I love with all my heart Miu Miu shoes, Balenciaga, Chloé and Stella too (McCartney of course!). Regarding clothes, it will remain almost the same: Stella Mc Cartney, Chloé, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Alexander Wang, Dsquared2, Marc Jacobs and a lot of smaller designer: Isabel Marant (who is my favourite in the moment!), Paul & Joe, Jerome Dreyfuss for bags… What a lot of them! I can’t name all, it’ll take too much time!
When you are not drawing, you will be…?
Thinking about my future drawings or thinking about clothes, or my future fiesta. Anyways, but obviously, thinking about the positive things in life!
da best. Keep it going! Thank you
I really like your post. Does it copyright protected?
hi. yes. in a way.
I love her illustrations !