Maddalena Carrai

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Black and white drawing of a woman holding a cigarette, by Maddalena Carrai

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Illustration of women directing film scenes, by Maddalena Carrai

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Woman in gold dress and pink boa celebrating New Year's Eve

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Students sitting at cafeteria tables eating and talking

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Students talking near lockers in a school hallway

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Hands holding an open book featuring large whale illustrations

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Tarot card showing champagne bottle, glasses, and moonlit window scene.

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Soft lines meet strong colors.

In her illustration style, as well as in life, Maddalena feels at home in several places.

Maddalena enjoys two home bases, one in the beautiful port city Livorno in Italy and the other in the fashion metropolis Paris. Maddalena is a versatile artist with a unique and intelligent style characterised by flat and bold colors, soft shapes and a realistic approach. Maddalena's artistic training includes studies at LABA in Florence and Saint Martins College in London. In addition to her work as an artist, Maddalena is also a teacher at the Sign Academy in Florence, where she passes on her knowledge and experience to aspiring artists.This diversity is reflected in her work, giving her the ability to fluidly apply her unique lines and bold colors to fashion illustrations, as well as editorial life style, advertising and children‘s book illustrations. Working with clients like Vogue talent and icon Lady Gaga, she proves to draw right at the pulse of time. Tools: Photoshop, Illustrator, Clip Studio paint

Maddalena Carrai, Livorno (IT), Paris (FR)

Languages: Italian, English, French

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What led you to become an illustrator? I have always had a passion for drawing, since I can remember. I cultivated this passion thanks to my grandfather and later I continued to develop it on my own, until my passion became my job. Did you study illustration in college? I started as an intern in a studio of illustrators and cartoonists in Florence. I then studied at a graphic design university in Florence and did postgraduate courses at Saint Martins College of London. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Italy, between Livorno, a seaside town near Pisa and Florence; and Paris. Thanks to my mom I was able to experience two completely different realities and be inspired by both. Do you have a childhood memory relating to drawing/art that you hold dear? All the memories related to drawing are also linked to my grandfather. I remember drawing at his house after school for whole afternoons. Where do you live now and what drew you there? Now I always live between Livorno and Paris and work in both places. In this case, technology was fundamental for me and I can safely work in smart working. Do you have a studio pet? Yes, a red cat named Whiskey! Describe the view from your window. My studio in Livorno overlooks my garden and a grove, while the one in Paris overlooks a very lively but also noisy avenue! Who or What is your biggest inspiration? It depends on the moment, I can be inspired by Lady Gaga, or by a colleague of mine, or by a painter, I don't have a fixed inspiration. Do you collect anything? No, but I buy a lot of comics. What are your interests outside of illustration? I love animals, comics and cinema. What is the first record you bought? Lady Gaga's Fame Monster. What makes a good client brief? Having a client with clear ideas, if the client knows what he wants, the brief will be concise and effective. How much of your work is hand drawn? I work a lot in digital, but not with vectors, everything I do is done by hand, but instead of drawing on a sheet, I do it on a graphic tablet. How do you envisage illustration evolving? I believe that illustration should be a communication tool to the citizen, or in any case to the community, so it will always evolve in this perspective, perhaps mixing with other media, as it is already doing. Who is your art hero? Nobody, I don't admire anyone, but I have many friends and colleagues who I adore personally and professionally. Who is your music hero? Nobody, but surely Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse have a special place in my heart. If you were not an illustrator, what would you be? I probably would have liked to do something in the world of cinema. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? Never give up and never stop and continue to do research and improve, whoever rests on his laurels is finished. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? I would love to see the natural parks in the United States, like Yellowstone. Do you have any hidden talents? I don't think so, I'm just drawing and observing. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Where I am now is great! If you could travel back in time, who would be the one person you would want to meet and why? I would like to meet Michelangelo or Leonardo Da Vinci, surely they would have many interesting things to say. What themes or content in the world inspires you? Any current event, whether economic or social, inspires me a lot to do my editorial illustrations. I try to be very up to date on the most important topics concerning the world. How do you keep on trend and up to date in our quickly changing industry? I always try to keep my style and never distort it in favor of passing fashions. My style obviously bends to the taste of the target or client in front of me, but I try to never distort my style. What movie can you watch over and over? I love watching movies, certainly the films of Tarantino, the great Lebowsky and Amici My, an Italian film by Mario Monicelli. What do you listen to when you’re illustrating? I usually listen to film soundtracks, or videos of my colleagues talking about illustration or comics. What was the last exhibition you saw and loved? I saw a beautiful exhibition on Fauves at the Petit Palesi in Paris, Fauvism is one of my favorite artistic currents. What was the last concert you went to? I don't like concerts very much, because I don't like confusion very much. However, the latest was Lady Gaga's artpop tour in Milan. Which languages can you speak? I obviously speak Italian, English and I speak a little French. What is your favourite ice cream flavour? All but mint!