Artist Interview – Christelle Bilodeau

Who are you and what do you do?

My title is Christelle Bilodeau and I am a portrait artist based in Quebec, Canada. I specialize in pencil portraits.

Why do you do what you do?

Drawing is my most significant passion. It is visceral, I have to draw. I miss out on it when I skip a day or two!

What inspires your art?

Mostly songs, but cinema is also a major inspiration. I enjoy a large amount of videos when I am drawing – it keeps me focused for some motive.

How and when did you get into art?

It all began when I was a baby. I liked drawing horses and I last but not least took portray lessons when I was 10. I bought interested in portraiture when I was 14-15, I began by portray portraits but I at some point traded my paint brushes for graphite pencils and I’ve been bettering at any time because.

How has your apply improved more than time?

I’m continually strengthening and exploring new procedures. Right here are a couple examples I applied to draw on simple white printer paper, I made use of to blend working with my fingers and tissues, and the day I found stumps, my whole existence improved!

What’s your favored piece of art that you’ve established? Why?

My complete favourite will usually be the drawing Paul McCartney autographed. I’ve enhanced a lot given that then but this portrait holds a very distinctive position in my coronary heart. Conference him was a monumental turning issue in my existence.

What is the very best piece of artwork guidance you’ve been specified?

Quit comparing your drawings to other individuals.

What is one particular artwork tip/approach you can share with us that you come across actually valuable?

Get a correct perform area (drawing table, easel, etcetera.) and a superior chair! You do not require a major art studio, your work location can be in the corner of a space. But a committed workspace is a will have to if you want to be capable to aim and get the job done for hrs at a time.

Do you have any secret strategies or approaches you use to salvage a piece when you make a mistake?

Choose a move again. Wait a day and go back again to your drawing table –  it constantly helps. You can see matters a lot more plainly.

What is your preferred Strathmore paper? Why?

Strathmore Drawing paper, 400 collection medium area. The texture is excellent – not far too clean, not also rough, excellent for blending graphite, and given that it is not bumpy, you can conveniently draw straight traces. It is effortless to harm paper with an eraser but this 1 is almost not possible to tear, which is a large furthermore.

What artwork supplies could you not stay with out?

The basics: pencils and paper! Couldn’t do anything at all without the need of them!

Who are your greatest influences (or who ended up when you commenced undertaking artwork)?

I try out not to compare myself to other graphite portrait artists, but a single of my beloved visual artist is Andy Warhol. He noticed splendor in every person and all the things. He appreciated the tiniest flaws in every single particular person and that was magnificence to him. Our functions are absolutely distinct but we do share the very same purpose: we want beauty to be mirrored in our art.

What is the most popular art-linked query you get from your followers?

How prolonged does it acquire to get excellent at it? Properly, the answer is, I do not know! It varies, exercise is key and how speedy you will increase depends on how many several hours a week you’re prepared to commit to your passion.

Web-site/social media back links:

www.christellebilodeau.com
www.instagram.com/christellebilodeau
www.fb.com/christellebilodeau
www.tiktok.com/@christellebilodeau
www.youtube.com/c/christellebilodeauportraitartist
www.twitter.com/christelleart