Artist in conversation: Véronique George
“ Through art, we express what words cannot say, and we find solace in the rhythm of our own emotions ”
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Beneath The Waves, Acrylic on canvas, 50 x 70 cms, 2024
‘‘The sea is calm and serene on the surface, but beneath the Waves, this sense of peace can be short-lived, so I try to live life to the fullest and enjoy every single moment.’’
What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique style?
I always did have a pencil or a paint brush in my hands as a child and as a teenager, but professional life pushed my love to the background and it was gradually replaced by a growing passion for photography during the many nature expeditions my husband and I did all over the world. Then suddenly, the pandemic reigned over all of our lives and our trips were cancelled and there was time for an old love, my paintings. So I took it up again and went back to art school to brush up my techniques. But it was just a nice hobby until destiny struck me. In 2022 my husband passed away quite abruptly. In 2023, I got the unique opportunity to come to U.K. and start a PhD in French Medieval literature at the University of Bristol. Bristol and my PhD have given me a new outlook on life and put me back on track. The creative
Bristolian energy has inspired me to such an extent that in November 2023 I started painting again and it was then that I developed my own unique style. I am now able to communicate with my canvas, my brushes and my colors. I trust my intuition as an artist, and because the emotions with which I express myself grow deeper and deeper, my canvases get bigger and my brush strokes more intense. I feel that my art work wants to communicate a deep message through the use of colors and through my own expressive technique of using acrylic almost as watercolors.
In terms of subject matter, what themes or motifs do you frequently explore in your work, and what draws you to these topics?
Since I have started to paint again, there is just one and unique theme that guides my hand, more precisely the topic of waves. They symbolize perfectly my emotional and spiritual journey these last years. My symbolic ‘Waves’ were devastating at first, when they struck my boat with a thundering violence; this is probably how losing hope sounds. Gradually, however, they started to heal and transform me, and eventually they will bring my ship back to safe waters.
Dancing On Top Of The Waves, Acrylic on canvas_61 x 91,4 cms, 2024
‘‘Although the waves try to break my boat, it is brave in the face of danger, it goes with the flow and dances on
top of the waves. Even when I am struck by destiny, I try to continue to dance and deal with the dark nights.’’
What inspired you to create the "Waves" series, and how does it reflect your personal journey?
As mentioned above, the unexpected death of my husband has had a dramatic impact on my life and subsequently also on my art, shaping it as it is today as the deepest expression of all the devasting, but also of all the inspirational and uplifting moments and challenges I have lived the last few years. My ‘Waves’ have saved me, and I can say without any doubt, that my art is shaping this second part of my life, my art shows you who I am, my art is what I have become, and I truly identify myself as an artist.
As a PhD student in French Medieval literature, how does your academic background intersect with your artistic practice, if at all?
My academic background has enriched me tremendously, because thanks to my PhD in French Medieval literature I get the incredible privilege to see up close beautifully decorated Medieval manuscripts, to see private collections and to go to archives. The Middle Ages are so inspirational to me, our contemporary art expressions all find their origin in that period of history, even if we are not fully aware of it. Furthermore, my PhD has brought a new dynamic to my life by bringing me to the U.K. and giving me the much needed space in my head to open up to this new side of my personality.
Waves of Hope, Acrylic on canvas, 40x50 cms, 2024
‘‘Even though everything seems lost, life holds a promise of a second chance on
happiness and the Waves bring hope to my ship that it eventually will end up in safer waters.’’
How do you stay connected with other artists and keep up with new developments and trends in the art world?
I am a great art lover and very frequently attend exhibitions of traditional art but also of new and vibrant contemporary art. There is nothing more uplifting then to admire the art of others than to see it close up. But I stay connected with other artists and galleries through art magazines, art podcasts, art master classes and of course Instagram where I follow a lot of artists to find out how they develop their art and art practices. Although I am just getting started on social media and as a professional artist, I already get positive feedback from other artists on my art, and there is nothing more valuable to me than that. And last but not least, I am one of the founding members of the Art To Hearts Project, which is a global media, publishing and education company for Artists & Creatives.
How do you incorporate feedback from critics and audiences into your artistic practice, and how do you balance this feedback with your own artistic intuition?
Feedback from my audience and critics is so important to me as an artist and as a person, firstly because it helps me to grow as an artist when I can see my work through their eyes, and secondly, because I create my art in order to bring emotions and inspiration to others. I have several good friends, art enthusiasts as me, whose advice I systematically seek before I decide that my work is ‘finished’. Their expression of how they ‘feel’ my art gives me sometimes insights on how to apply the finishing touch.
How do you stay motivated and inspired despite any setbacks or creative blocks you may encounter?
The setbacks I have in life, and I’ve had quite a lot these last few years, are washed away by my ‘Waves’. Fortunately, I can’t say that I already have experienced any creative blocks, on the contrary, although I still have not finished my ‘Waves’ series, I already have several other paintings just waiting to pop out of my brush. I sometimes wish I could paint every waking minute of the day, but I am not a fulltime artist yet, so I have to be patient. And I think that is the key word for all of us artists, we need to have enough patience and faith in ourselves to get the inspiration we potentially lack, to get selected for an exhibition or a publication in an art magazine, to have our own solo exhibition, to gain the love and respect of our audience.
How do you feel about exhibiting your artworks with The Holy Art Gallery?
I was very pleased to have my first exhibition ever at The Holy Art Gallery in London with the group exhibition ‘Senses’ (from the 26 th of April until 5 th of May 2024) which was immediately followed by my participation to the ‘Art On Loop London-Athens’ digital exhibition (from the 10 th of May until the 19 th of May 2024). It has given me the incredible possibility to showcase my work internationally!
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
My close-term goal is to create all the ‘Waves’ that are still dancing in my mind and have some solo exhibitions where I can share my complete series of ‘Waves’, because every painting of the series has its special place in that series and takes its significance from its interaction with the other paintings. My long-term goals and aspirations as an artist are to continue to grow in my work, to create even more powerful and inspirational paintings, to master and embrace the art of pottery and to get more recognition as an artist on a national and international level. I plan to achieve this by continuing to do what I have started to do: by painting from the heart and from intuition, expanding my networks with other artists and galleries, believing and investing in my art, being proactive in the art world, and by trusting the flow of the Universe!
What role does emotion play in your creative process, and how do you aim to evoke specific feelings or reactions from those who view your artworks?
Emotions play the key role in my creative process, my emotions and intuition guide my paint brush, my ‘Waves’ are the symbolic expression of my deepest emotions. My creative process helps me to heal, to find myself, to bring me peace, and this is what I hope my paintings can bring to those who view them. I'm sure everyone who sees my work can feel the positive energy running through it. It’s the dynamic of the brush strokes and the playfulness of the waves and of my little boat that bring this energy to the surface. Several persons have told me that they can feel the wind blowing when they look at some of my paintings, can an artist wish for a better compliment? It is such a great pleasure for me to share my ‘Waves’ and their message of hope and happiness with my audience. So I wish to invite them to embark with me on my boat and I hope that they will enjoy the journey as much as I have benefitted from this quest for light and bliss...