In our exclusive interview with Parisian artist Sandrine Pagnoux we dig deep into her influences and inspirations. Want to know what drives her art, and why she doesn’t care at all about perfectionism? Read on!

You live in the world’s fashion capital and have worked for numerous fashion brands and magazines. Do you think that the Parisian life and ambience is crucial for your work and defines your style? 
Living in Paris offers a great access to lots of images - in the street, subway, shop windows, on the bus. Pictures are everywhere and I love it! All of these influence me. I need the city! I’m a loner but I need to be among people to feel the city buzz and life around me.
I love my neighborhood which is filled with fashion boutiques, galleries, charity shops and tourists. I love watching people, their looks, the mix of ages and styles. Paris feeds me.

What draws you to the frequent portrayal of female figures in your work? Does that come from your past work as a fashion photographer? 
I love working with faces. The look fascinates me because there is always authenticity. People can’t pretend. There is always an emotion in the look and that’s what I try to capture.

I often work with female models because the pictures offer more possibilities thanks to their make-up or sophisticated hairstyles. Their looks are more complex and their poses more diverse.

We’re huge fans of all of your work but we especially love the fragility of Fixer les vertiges and the intensity of your Northern Star. What has inspired you to these illustrations and what exactly do they represent? 
For Fixer les vertiges I wanted to play with human deconstruction and portray the fragility and loneliness. We all are a sum of little things. But I don’t like to explain my work because I think art must be felt, not explained. 

In regards to Northern Star, I wanted to emphasize the strength and the intensity of the model’s look. The title comes from a song by Hole that I love and used to listen to a lot. This illustration is probably one of my favorites. It’s kind of a happy mess with drawings, words and references to music. It illustrates adolescence when everything is very intense.

We’re intrigued by your ‘addiction to imperfection’ as you once said. Could you elaborate? 
I like things that have flaws, such as lines that are not straight, that are broken, scratched or worn out. I love awkwardness. Perfection doesn’t interest me at all. I’m interested in human beings and they’re always imperfect.

That’s why it’s important for me to draw by hand, not with a computer. I need to show that there is a human being behind. The computer is only a tool, the essential elements are the pencil and the paper. 

Here at caseable, we like to let our hair down once or twice in a while, some earlier than others (sorry Brooklyn office!). What do you like to do for fun when you put the pencil down? 
Actually, the fun begins when I do hold the pen! There are no limits or rules, just fun and creation. But when I really put the pencil down I like to walk around Paris, ride a motorcycle, play with my cat, watch documentaries about fashion and music. I always have to feed myself with pictures and music.

Summer holidays. Who doesn’t love them! Are you the type to spend a week lying on a beach, catching sun and sipping on margaritas or do you like to have more active and adventurous trips? What would be your ultimate holiday? 
I’m not a big fan of crowded beaches, I usually stay in Paris during summer. I try to enjoy it like a tourist: wandering around the little streets of Marais and Montmartre or the bridges across the Seine river. But when I do go on travels, it’s either for work or to visit friends. I’m not the type to go backpacking.

What attracted you to caseable to become one of our Artists? 
I like to see my designs on everyday items and see them sold and travel worldwide. Smartphones are used every day and reflect our personality, our entire lives are inside! I also appreciate the quality of your products and I think you’re really awesome! I’m proud to be part of your artist community and hope your brand will expand more and more.

Which caseable case are you carrying around at the moment? 
I was carrying the Northern Star until recently but I lost my smartphone. As soon as I get a new one, I will get the Fixer les vertiges.

What direction can we expect to see in your future work? Aside from caseable canvases, where would you most like to display your work? 
I’d like to create illustrations for skateboards and surfboards or partner up with clothing and accessories companies.