Meet the artist ILDA

MEET THE ARTIST

ILDA

"I like to work in a constant search for balance and harmony."

Melanie Dehez

ILDA

Painter and illustrator, BEGAAR (40)

Mélanie Dehez, Alias ILDA, transports us into her sparkling and colorful world, and shares her artistic journey with us.

See his Artist page All illustrations

Tell us your story, how did your vocation come to you?

I've been drawing and painting since I was very young, like all children, but I've never stopped. I hesitated for a long time between going to a school of Applied Arts or a sports science degree. Needing to move around at that time, I got a degree in Sports Science before going to study physiotherapy in Brussels.
I practiced this profession for thirteen years before changing course and launching myself as a painter exclusively.
The first lockdown was the trigger. I finally dared to show my paintings on social media and the first orders came in quickly.

How would you describe your style, your artistic approach, in a few words?

I champion a colorful, graphic, and soothing art form deeply rooted in my home. Colors and contrasts are central to my work. I combine flat tints and simple shapes to create a dreamlike and poetic visual. The ever-present eye symbolizes many things, including kindness, curiosity, and free will. I strive for balance and harmony in my work.

What themes or subjects inspire you most in your work?

I grew up and currently live in the Landes region. I am strongly influenced by the nature that surrounds me and by the music I listen to constantly.

How do you work?

I work in my studio in a small village in the countryside, in the heart of the Landes region. Acrylic paint is my preferred medium. I paint on paper, canvas, wood, walls, and more. I love experimenting with different surfaces and sizes. I can paint a small wooden brooch or a mural spanning several square meters. I also reproduce some of my original works on fine art paper. Everything is printed in my studio by me in limited editions. Each reproduction is numbered and signed.
As for illustration, I work primarily digitally. I take on commissions from individuals, professionals, and associations. I also collaborate with brands.

Do you have a particular technique, a specific expertise? Without revealing all your secrets, have you developed your own methods and techniques?

Being entirely self-taught, I have indeed developed my own methods and techniques. And I continue and will continue to learn every day!

Tell us about your daily life, your constraints, your joys, your successes…

The freedom I have to work is essential. It brings me great joy. I think it's inseparable from the creative process. Working close to home saves me considerable time. I love immersing myself and spending hours on diverse and varied projects, whether in painting or digital art. To my great surprise, the people who approach me trust me completely, and that's very motivating.
The downside of this wonderful freedom is the irregularity of income, depending on the time of year and the projects. But that's part of the game! After four years in business, I'm starting to get used to it.

Do you have a message you'd like to share, or anything else you'd like to say?

Contrary to what you see on social media, nothing happens overnight. Even today, I have periods of inactivity and periods where I have several projects to manage simultaneously. You have to try to ride that wave by working consistently and showcasing your work. Even if you don't think it's perfect, it's very important. That's how it all started for me.

See his artist page