The Thread of a Lifetime
It All Begins with a Look
Painting has been part of my life since my teenage years. It has never left me.
Born in Morocco, I moved to France at a very young age, then spent several years in Germany, in Freiburg im Breisgau near the Black Forest, before settling permanently in the Paris region. These early moves undoubtedly taught me to observe landscapes, architecture, and the unique atmosphere of the places around me.
It was in Paris, however, that my artistic vocation truly began. During my middle school years, my mother regularly took me to museums, major painting exhibitions, and exhibitions devoted to different civilizations. She awakened my curiosity and shaped the way I looked at the world. At the age of fourteen, she gave me my first oil painting set, which I still own today. I began by copying a self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh, an artist I deeply admired, before creating my first still lifes.
The Years of Learning
At the age of seventeen, in 1975, I painted Pottery and Kassai, a still life that marked an important milestone in my artistic journey. Over the following years, I continued painting still lifes, landscapes, flower arrangements, and a portrait of my grandfather painted from life. At the same time, I produced drawings of the nude figure, landscapes, and architecture, always working directly from observation.
Equally drawn to artistic creation and the construction of space, I enrolled in the School of Architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. I was also admitted through the competitive entrance examination to the Fine Arts program. Although I ultimately chose to pursue architecture, this education profoundly shaped the way I see the world. It taught me to think in terms of masses, lines of force, solids and voids—an approach that continues to inform my artistic practice today.
A Passion That Never Faded
My professional career unfolded in architecture, technical design, and project management. Yet painting never disappeared from my life. It remained a constant presence, even during periods when time for artistic practice was limited.
In 1999, a period of professional transition led me to discover watercolor. It was a true revelation. I created more than forty works, primarily landscapes, captivated by the spontaneity of the medium, the transparency of color, and the luminous effects it made possible. During this same period, I also completed a dry pastel depicting a canal in Saint-Omer.
My curiosity about art has never been limited to my own practice. I have continued to visit museums, galleries, and exhibitions throughout my life, convinced that encountering works of art nourishes the eye just as much as working in the studio.
Choosing the Life of an Artist
After retiring, I decided to devote myself entirely to artistic creation. I returned to formal study at the Ateliers Beaux-Arts of the City of Paris, where I continue to attend anatomy and life drawing classes, convinced that learning is a lifelong process.
In December 2023, I officially established myself as a professional artist. The following year, I created my own website to present my work, submit applications to exhibitions and competitions, and offer my artworks for sale.
A New Visual Language
In December 2025, I entered a new phase of my artistic journey by discovering digital painting on a tablet using Procreate. This medium opened up new creative possibilities and gradually led me toward a visual language where representation and abstraction coexist. My series Cocoon, Inner Cartography, and Grey reflect this ongoing exploration of space, color, perception, and light.
Today, my work brings together watercolor, oil painting, and digital art. Each medium has its own visual language, yet all pursue the same goal: to evoke emotion, presence, and spaces for contemplation.
International Recognition
Within just a few months, my digital artworks were selected and recognized in numerous international competitions. They have been exhibited in France, the United States, Switzerland, and Hungary, including at Art Capital at the Grand Palais in Paris, Art Shopping at the Carrousel du Louvre, Agora Gallery in New York, as well as art fairs and exhibitions in Zurich, Budapest, Santa Fe, and Chicago. My work has also been featured in art magazines and contemporary art publications.
These recognitions encourage me to continue an artistic exploration that began more than fifty years ago, with each new work extending the same dialogue between structure, color, light, and perception.
The Thread of Creation
Today, I continue this journey with the same enthusiasm and curiosity. Each new work represents another step in an ongoing artistic exploration where space, color, light, and perception interact freely.
"Works of art have the power to touch our souls."
— Fabienne Blanc
