Describe your style:
My work is naive and soft, sometimes even cute but always with a bit of melancholy and moroseness.
Tell us a little bit about the pieces and the inspiration behind them:
The main inspiration in all of my art comes from my childhood. I had a very simple yet dreamy childhood in France, with walks in the woods, a large family, travels around the world, fairy tales and songs, chestnuts roasting on the open hearth, even a real castle. I read a book a day when I was very young and I was convinced very early on that reality is what you want it to be.
Where does the name Mijn Schatje come from?
It’s Dutch and it means “My Litttle Darling”, my Mother and Grandmother are Dutch and I used to hear that a lot when I was a child. It’s something people would call a beloved one, so it’s universal and tender in the same way I’m trying to approach the world through my art.
What’s the first picture you can remember drawing as a child?
I remember drawing a lot of cats!
If your art was music, what would it sound like?
I’m collaborating with a few artists who create music based on my artworks that we then play at my shows. I think that the combination of music and visual together creates makes for a great experience. I had my Japanese friend "Kumi"http://www.myspace.com/kumisoloproject playing at my show in Amsterdam, then Incubator from Los Angeles did a few musical pieces inspired by my work. I also worked with my friend Reset Sakrecoer who is based in Barcelona. I also have some future musical projects with my dear friend and music genius Aurélie, the collaboration will probably end up being published as a DVD with music, visuals and bonus this time.
What’s your relationship with the Electro scene?
I am quite a music lover and many of my friends are musicians, so I’ve worked with a few music labels as a graphic designer. I work exclusively on vinyl album covers because I like the retro feeling of the object and the space of the format.
How did you get involved with Second Life?
I’m a nerd at heart. I’ve been a computer fan since the first day we got a computer at home in the late 80’s. The internet is a great tool for us artists to get in touch with our audience and it also helps us get to know other artists and share with them. Second Life is a virtual world and though I am not that active in it these days I used to run a great virtual gallery with my artist friend Eli Effenberger where we showcased some of our latest works. I also managed an art hotel with another friend where many people created interactive installations using sound, visual and scripting. Second Life is very interesting because it gives back the idea of space in distance in the virtual, while still linking people together. It’s a much deeper experience that visiting a myspace page ;)
Your characters look like they are from a fairy tale, have you invented a world for them?
All of my pictures are like pieces of a puzzle. When you look at them one after another, you get a fairly precise idea of their world.
How do you create your beautiful vectored images?
Like everyone else, with vector software. No special secrets… I use a mouse on a wacom tablet. I just spend an insane time on it and I started when I was 10 years old!
Name three artists whose work you love:
My friend Kukula who’s work keep getting better and better. I visited her show recently at Copro/Nason in LA and I was in awe, we have a show planned together in December 2009 in LA. A Japanese artist called Nori Tomizaki who I discovered through Myspace, I know a bit about Japanese strange and lolita but he is a master at it. And finally, Makiko Sugawa, she paints very delicate erotic scenes with girls in their underwear. She uses a health issue she has as an inspiration for her work – she’s started drawing some characters with leg prosthetics. I think she’s a great artist and she’s full of courage. I admire her.
What are your most treasured possessions?
Two original ink drawings by Makiko Sugawa, a signed print by Aya Takano, another one by Kukula, all of my Camille Rose Garcia dolls, my many dresses and pumps, a strawberry shaped necklace (all girls try to steal it from me!), my Mark Ryden Anima Mundi book and so much more…
What are your vices/guilty pleasures?
Macarons and fine french pasteries in very cute pastel coloured boxes, cooking, buying pumps and playing the Wii with my boyfriend.
Could you share something about yourself that makes you blush slightly:
When I met somebody four or five years ago who compared my work to Mark Ryden’s I said thank you but I had no idea who he was… Hehe…
Are there any upcoming shows or projects you’d like to share?
My next solo show will take place in Amsterdam in March 2009 and then I’m having a group show in May with Miss Van and Liz McGrath in Toulouse.
Mijn Schatje photo by Alban Pichon
