“Although every work begins with an idea, feeling, or emotion, the materials themselves sometimes take me in a different direction. I’m always looking for balance and for the moment when every element clicks into place,” says British-French artist Max Ososki of her creative process.

Max specializes in collage, collecting old papers, letters, book pages and vintage textiles, largely from French brocantes, and combining them with acrylic and layered compositions. 'I simply love the texture and feel of old paper, its muted tones and hints of typography.'

Overall, color is at the heart of Max’s creative process: “Color is absolutely the foundation of my work. I often spend hours making subtle adjustments to get the tone exactly right—it’s a fascinating relationship!”

Max's many years in the wine and food industries have continually inspired her work. She is often commissioned to design wine labels for local farms and vineyards and has recently worked on labels for wine, shrubs and olive oil. She also explores more abstract work through cutting and assembling, often inspired by remembered spaces and interiors.

Clearly, Max’s work as an artist is inspired to a great extent by her love of food and the rural scenery around Auvergne, France, where she hopes to settle one day. “My images often include table settings, plates, and wine bottles,” she says. “Auvergne is where I feel most at home and most inspired.”