Wake up (2024) Painting by Velvet

How did I decide to become a painter?

I remember that when I was a child, I liked to draw, a bit of everything, just with a pencil, it goes back a bit now, but I remember certain things, certain drawings, in particular a portrait of one of my uncles, or one of Clint Eastwood made for my father. And then I grew up, and as I grew up I gradually gave up drawing.

From a somewhat chaotic life as a teenager, between drug and alcohol problems, I ended up going into treatment around the age of 22, for a period of a year and a half. When I got out, I was lost for a long time, doing odd jobs and periods of unemployment, ending up as a seasonal worker in the vineyards for five years. I knew I wanted to find a job that suited me.

The year 2022 marks my last season in the vineyards, and the resumption of drawing and painting, at first to pass the boredom of this new period of unemployment. Little by little, the practice became more regular, almost daily.

At the beginning, it was pastel that attracted me the most, I watched videos of other artists on YouTube in order to learn a little about mastering this medium. At the same time, I planned to go back to work, but once again I was lost in my research, not knowing what to do this time. After several failures and interviews, it was at the beginning of 2023 that I made a decision, to take my unemployment time and use it to paint, with a view to improving myself.

There was an advantage to all of this. Little by little, over time, I understood that this was what I wanted to do, paint.

I had found my voice, and I intended to stick to it. Painting has allowed me to calm some of my anxieties, my anxiety, and to translate visions or feelings that I had inside me.

I don't want to set myself any barriers on the subjects or universes addressed, I imagine that they will be able to evolve over time.

From pastel I moved on to acrylic, I also like collages, and the mixture of the two. I like to approach religious, spiritual subjects, fantastic or legendary universes, dreamlike or nightmarish.

My first influences related to painting are Jan Toorop, William Turner, Henry De Groux, Bosch if I had to name a few. I also inspired by literature or cinema.

Totally self-taught, I have not done any studies related to art, my learning is done by practice, curiosity, and also a lot of videos found on the net.

• Nationality: FRANCE
• Date of birth : 1991
• Artistic domains: Works by professional artists,
• Groups: Professional Artist Contemporary French Artists