Michel St. Hilaire: "This was a small wall and there were limited funds. The client didn't
even see a sketch; she trusted me that much as she had seen my portfolio. The only
guideline she gave me was to make it involve fashion and global culture. So that's what I
did. I left the faces white and featureless just to say this could be anybody, and to follow
an impressionist style. There's a world spinning behind the centre figure's head to
represent the idea of fashion and design from all over the world. Two of the figures have
little 'bursts' coming from where the ear would be- this represents the individual's
chakra, or energy. Also, she (the client) goes to Thailand and India a lot, and I wanted
something that would represent that, and I thought of having henna adornment designs
along the one figure's shoulder and arm. They also have jewellery adornment as well in
that store."
Michel also did a larger piece (5' x 7') of a market setting in a more traditional
impressionist style inside the store for the client (photo 2).
