Artist Interview – Christelle Bilodeau

Who are you and what do you do?

My identify is Christelle Bilodeau and I’m a portrait artist based in Quebec, Canada. I specialize in pencil portraits.

Why do you do what you do?

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

What inspires your artwork?

Primarily new music, but cinema is also a massive inspiration. I look at a whole lot of movies when I’m drawing – it keeps me concentrated for some cause.

How and when did you get into art?

It all started off when I was a child. I savored drawing horses and I at last took portray classes when I was 10. I acquired interested in portraiture when I was 14-15, I started by painting portraits but I inevitably traded my paint brushes for graphite pencils and I have been improving upon at any time considering the fact that.

How has your follow improved in excess of time?

I am regularly improving upon and exploring new strategies. In this article are a number of illustrations I made use of to attract on plain white printer paper, I employed to blend making use of my fingers and tissues, and the day I found stumps, my whole lifestyle modified!

What is your beloved piece of art that you have made? Why?

My absolute favorite will constantly be the drawing Paul McCartney autographed. I have improved a large amount since then but this portrait retains a pretty exclusive spot in my heart. Assembly him was a monumental turning issue in my existence.

What’s the greatest piece of art suggestions you have been given?

Prevent comparing your drawings to some others.

What is one particular art tip/approach you can share with us that you obtain truly beneficial?

Get a correct do the job area (drawing desk, easel, and many others.) and a fantastic chair! You you should not require a massive artwork studio, your perform place can be in the corner of a area. But a devoted workspace is a need to if you want to be ready to aim and operate for several hours at a time.

Do you have any top secret recommendations or strategies you use to salvage a piece when you make a miscalculation?

Consider a move again. Hold out a day and go again to your drawing table –  it generally will help. You can see things far more plainly.

What is your most loved Strathmore paper? Why?

Strathmore Drawing paper, 400 series medium surface. The texture is best – not too easy, not much too rough, fantastic for blending graphite, and due to the fact it is not bumpy, you can simply attract straight lines. It is effortless to hurt paper with an eraser but this one is just about unattainable to tear, which is a major in addition.

What artwork elements could you not are living with no?

The principles: pencils and paper! Couldn’t do something without the need of them!

Who are your most significant influences (or who were when you commenced performing artwork)?

I attempt not to assess myself to other graphite portrait artists, but 1 of my most loved visual artist is Andy Warhol. He observed beauty in every person and everything. He appreciated the tiniest flaws in each and every person and that was magnificence to him. Our operates are absolutely distinct but we do share the very same goal: we want elegance to be reflected in our artwork.

What is the most frequent art-related query you get from your followers?

How long does it consider to get excellent at it? Well, the remedy is, I do not know! It differs, apply is critical and how quick you are going to make improvements to is dependent on how quite a few several hours a week you’re ready to devote to your passion.

Website/social media inbound links:

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