Hello

from the studio

A thought

Art transforms you

One of the main reason I do and collect Art is simply because it makes me feel good. I never really understand clearly why - the sensorial chain of reactions together with the strong feeling of alignment - is magic
The scientists that study this sensorial mechanism claim that art does transform our brain and body. I'm no scientist but this is my understanding :
We are sensorial beings that react to our environment. We engage neurons that need to be connected and our sensorial experiences of the world creates neural pathways that make us grow, learn, think & more. The more we are connected to things we like and stimulate us, the more we allow theses neural pathways to build up. Contemplating a piece that connects with you is a beautiful way to experience over & over this incredible process that it is all in us.

These last couple of months I simply tried to dig more in me, defining what I like the most and my road map was ... don't hold back, go where it feels good.

If you want to learn more on this subject, a very promising book has just been released:
Your Brain on Art, by Susan Magsamen & Ivy Ross

I can't wait to read this book, if you do so, I would love to know your thoughts on the subject.

A place

Marrakech, Morocco

... is my happy place :)

A place where everything finally slows down. I've noticed that the artworks I do when I'm on holidays is quite different from the ones in London. The energy is more loose, more free.
It is fascinating to notice how places impact you unconsciously. Lately I've been trying to bring this energy back into the studio. How to be more free and less conscious and allowing my self to experiment and play more.

A moment

When the most personal becomes universal
I often paint personal scene of my life, my kids, my strolls or some ordinary moments of my daily life. I can hold back and think it's strange and who will be interested ? But I'm really drawn to celebrate and magnify these simple scenes of life. I enjoy the process of diving in my memories, mixing them together and create a dreamy, expressive atmosphere.
Somehow my most personal paintings found new homes first, would the most personal be the most universal?

A painting

Are you dreaming or hiding?
Do you sometimes feel guilty dreaming? I certainly do... Probably because my surroundings don't enable me to be grounded enough or because our contemporary lives are so demanding.. no much time left for recreative escapes. Worse, we feel (or it makes you feel) like we are hiding and avoiding "real" life when you take the time to dream.

But what if dreaming is actually just a way to face life and to build healthy tools to function? Would that be more acceptable?
In a "modern" society obsessed by productivity & time, I reclaim the right to dream. This is where my brain heals and expands, not hide. 

A wish

20 minutes
Is the recommended time to make art per day. Using colors, mark makings, drawing will stimulate some areas of your brains that we don't stimulate enough. It can be as simple as colouring a page with one colour, connecting with a memory, reflecting, expressing yourself or simply giving an intention for the day. Could making art be the highest form of meditation ?
I wish we allow all ourselves to play at least 20 minutes per day, or if you really don't feel to, just take the time to contemplate and connect with art around you... It can start just here, through this letter.