About
Incubation
In the 1990s, I made my first steps in face-painting thanks to my friend Olivier Zegers, a master face painter. I followed him at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival – the first event to host a bodypainting contest ever-, and then to Bicolline, the biggest live action role-playing game in Québec. This allowed me to learn the skills of the trade on the field of fantasy. My first Guinea pigs were my scouts, my friends and my flatmate.
Until then, aside from a varied and unlikely professional life, I had only been painting fantasy miniatures, occasionally drawing and making costumes for live action role-playing games.
Prix du public @ Brussels Fantastic Film Festival
Travail du collectif “Etincelle” avec Houyam Hajlaoui, Marie Fontaine et Caroline Trefois
Outbreak
In 2004, I set up an artists collective called “Étincelle” (sparkle) with other face-painters, in order to bring ourselves to a professional level. We have been organizing 37 bodypaint jams, a face-painting booth for medieval markets and folk/fantasy festivals, several training sessions, sundry experiments and numerous participations to international bodypainting contests.
From animations to festivals, from Halloween make-ups to marketing events, face and body-painting gradually become a real occupation. Personal projets and training courses alternate with professional commissions in various sectors such as private or public events, advertising, photography, live performances and television.
Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.
– Forrest Gump
Evolution
Next to this, I participated several times to the face-painting and bodypainting contest of the BIFFF, which I both won in 2006. Then I competed at the World Bodypainting Festival and other international contests with good rankings. Consequently, I was invited as a jury member in bodypainting festivals or in make-up schools.
Since the 2010s, I have been completely dedicated to make-up and bodypainting. I am constantly developping supporting skills (special effects, studio photography, photo retouching) and personal projects where I strive at innovating (staging bodypainting performances, bodyscan and 3D printing of a bodypainted model, set up of a research lab – “Labodypainting“, etc.).
Expo “Street Fem” @ Galerie G3 Art contemporain
Expression
When the colour fades away under the shower, all you have left are the pictures, which are merely the interpretation of a work gone by. In order to make up for the ephemeral nature of my creations, I have become their photographer. It allows me to ensure the artistic continuity throughout all the steps – painting, photography, retouching – so that these different aspects strengthen each other.
As a photographer, I strive to go beyond the cosmetic devices and show the essence of the characters embodied in my models. I try to illustrate an emotion, a universe, rather than displaying a technical skill.
I regularly exhibit my pictures in Belgium and abroad.
A few references
And so many beautiful encounters