THE WORKSHOP
Discover the behind-the-scenes of the creation of works in my workshop near Lille.
My creative space
This is the space where all my ideas flow. This space brings together my written thoughts, my books, my preparatory sketches, and my finished or in-progress works.
My sources of inspiration are both art books from various artistic periods, including the Renaissance, Symbolism, and Art Nouveau.
But also books on psychology, symbology, and any other theme that can be integrated into my current thinking.
From sketch to final production
The first step in my entire creative process is to first put down on paper the ideas, words, and feelings I want to convey through my works. I make a first draft, which may change several times, until I obtain the composition that best matches my intentions.
Some symbols come spontaneously, while others take time to mature. Many analogies are made to make the quality, or theme, represented as harmonious as possible. The goal is to vitalize these symbols together to create an image that itself becomes a symbol in its own right.
The sketch on canvas
Another fundamental step in my practice is the sketch, which duplicates the composition created in the notebook onto the canvas. This is one of my favorite moments in the process. The sketch reveals the scale of the figures, shapes, and symbols represented.
We can guess what this new work will look like, as it gradually comes to life.
Painting brings the work to life
Adding touches of paint gradually brings the work to life. It's as if the addition of color, of material, gives body to the work. As if it could fully embody itself.
Evolution of the work
Within the creative process itself, at the painting stage, the colors and symbols can be modified to be amplified, adjusted, and thus reinforce the desired sensation. For me, it is essential to be able to modify the work throughout its creation to achieve the most meaningful image possible.
For example, here the work was only supposed to include shades of blue in the sky. Adding these yellow and orange hues allowed me to create a sensation of sunrise, which reinforced this quality of radiance. As if the character represented was welcoming this new version of herself with this new cycle that begins with this rising sun.