Isabelle Villa

Miniaturist

Through the lens of a miniaturist

Isabelle is a miniature painter who works exclusively under a magnifying lens
She trained for four years at an applied arts school
As a miniaturist, she considers herself more an artisan than an artist

Isabelle Villa is a master artisan specialising in miniature painting. She works with impeccable precision and delicate craftsmanship, and all of her work must be carried out using a magnifying lens. She dedicates five to six hours daily to her craft, and each project takes around a week to complete. Since 2007, Isabelle has collaborated with prestigious watchmaking houses, creating intricate designs on diverse surfaces such as watch dials, globes, pens and jewellery. Her standout work includes painting the globe on a watch in which ships were no bigger than 2mm. "The most demanding piece I worked on was the portrait of a cheetah, which took me 60 hours to complete," she says. Isabelle's expertise spans from custom reproductions to original designs. Her work has been showcased in acclaimed publications and at high-profile events, including live painting for a boutique opening in Hong Kong.

Interview

How did your journey in miniature painting begin?: My father was a dial-maker, which gave me the opportunity to start miniature watch painting.
How many utensils do you use while painting on a watch?: I use ultra-fine brushes that I sometimes pluck to make even finer. I work with industrial paint, creating my own colour palette from the three primary colours.
Do you see yourself more as an artisan or artist?: I consider myself more of an artisan because most of the time, the works I reproduce are created by other artists. I occasionally create my own designs, mainly for customisations.
How much creative freedom do you have in your projects?: My creativity peaks when I am adapting designs to tiny formats, and being precise is where my expertise lies. I add volume, transparency and contrast for a sharp result despite the small format. I also create custom designs with clients for unique pieces or personalised watch customisations.

Isabelle Villa is a master artisan: she began her career in 2007 and she started teaching in 2010