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Who are you and where do you come from?
My name is Elise Baron. Originally from Brittany, I spent a large part of my childhood in the West Indies, and traveled extensively before arriving in the Serre-Ponçon region.
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Could you describe your career in a few sentences?
A graduate of the Pivaut school of applied arts in Nantes, I've been lucky enough to work in a wide variety of artistic fields over the course of my career: from video game concept art to publishing novels and board games, not forgetting creating portraits for Disneyland Paris... Working as a freelance illustrator has enabled me to set up wherever I like.
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Tell us about your business?
I'm a painter and illustrator. As an artist, I mainly paint with watercolors and oil paints on canvas, which I like to exhibit in unusual places (restaurants, bars, stores...). At the same time, I create illustrations in a wide variety of styles and techniques for all kinds of media: book covers, posters, board games, orientation tables, logos...
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Why did you choose Serre-Ponçon as the location for your business?
It's a region that has no shortage of attractions for creators and artists. The mountain landscapes are of course an inexhaustible source of inspiration, but it was the lake that convinced me to settle here. Given my personal background, I couldn't have lived far from a large body of water. In fact, you can find this water theme in most of my creations.
What do you love most about your job?
The variety of projects. I'm never bored in what I do, and I always have a great freedom of expression that I've never had in any other profession.
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What techniques and style characterize you?
My style and technique can vary greatly from project to project. My work is characterized by an abundance of detail, and I'm a perfectionist. I also always gravitate towards the same themes: water, nature, animals, ecology.
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What are your sources of inspiration? What is your relationship with your work? Has your work evolved?
I was greatly inspired by classical painting and impressionism. I love studying art history and ancient painting techniques. My work is constantly evolving, of course, and I'm now trying to detach myself from these old influences to find a little more freedom in my strokes.
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Do you have a little anecdote to tell us about your creations and exhibitions?
My most recent exhibition was a series of canvases depicting wild animals in relation to humans. The idea came to me during the containment period, when humans were confined to their homes and animals finally reclaimed the cities. I was saddened that this ecological phenomenon didn't have more impact in the long term, and that's what I've been trying to talk about through my art ever since. The ecological theme of my work has finally touched many people, enabling me to start a collaboration with the Rooftop at Embrun's lake, for whom I'm preparing a new exhibition for the summer, as well as with the Game of Trees festival in Les Orres, a festival centered on ecology, art and culture, areas which I feel go perfectly hand in hand!
