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On Pinterest, I post photos of my past and recent creations, as well as a few animations to discover or rediscover.
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SUMMARY
🔹 My Artistic Style
What is a stylized painting?
What is a poetic painting?
What is an offbeat figurative painting?
What is the link between figurative art and narrative surrealism?
What themes do you explore in your works?
How has your painting style evolved?
Why do you create animations from your paintings?
🔹 Painting and Animation Techniques
What techniques do you use in painting?
Why do you paint with oil?
How do you create your digital animations?
How long does it take to create a work?
🔹 Buying an Artwork
Can I buy a work visible on your site?
How do I buy a work visible on the site?
Are your paintings framed upon delivery?
Is it possible to see a work in person before buying?
Can I order a custom artwork?
What are the delivery times?
Can I pay in installments?
🔹 Being an Artist Today - A Choice of Life
Have you always been a painter?
Has your work traveled internationally?
Have you ever been the subject of a sponsorship (patronage)?
Does experience really count in an artistic career?
FAQ – Paintings by Valérie Lacalmontie
Welcome to this FAQ dedicated to my artistic universe. Here, you will find answers regarding the evolution of my style, the techniques I use in both painting and animation, my inspirations, and the recurring themes in my work: stylized landscapes, visual narratives, and poetic or quirky figurative art.
This page is also an opportunity to learn more about my artistic process, my background, and the details for acquiring an original work, commissioning a personalized painting, or discovering my upcoming exhibitions.
Feel free to explore each series through the links included in the answers, or visit my current gallery pages directly.
My Artistic Style:
🔹 What is stylized painting?
A stylized painting does not seek to represent reality as it is, but to transform, simplify, or idealize it according to a personal vision. In my work, this translates into shifting, undulating architectures, an expressive color palette… and an assertive graphic approach, particularly in the representation of the sea and vegetation: trees, foliage, bark, or decorative patterns often give rhythm to my compositions.
→ View the stylized revisited landscapes
→ View the stylized dreamed landscapes
🔹 What is a poetic painting?
A poetic painting evokes an emotion, an atmosphere, or a story without necessarily saying everything. It is an art of suggestion, of evocative detail, that invites the imagination. Each painting becomes a sensitive space, where humor, silence, or strangeness find their place.
→ View the homepage
→ Explore the surrealist paintings
→ Explore the surrealist animal paintings
→ View the space paintings
🔹 What is quirky figurative painting?
My work navigates between narrative figuration, visual humor, and quirky poetry. I compose scenes where familiar elements shift into the absurd or the strange: surrealism.
→ Explore the surrealist paintings
→ Explore the surrealist animal paintings
→ A world of chickens
🔹 What is the link between figurative art and narrative surrealism?
My works tell stories through a diverted realistic aesthetic. Surrealism is not a style, but an atmosphere that emanates from the shift between elements.
→ Explore the surrealist paintings → Explore the surrealist animal paintings → View the space paintings
🔹 What themes do you explore in your works?
My paintings explore various themes, from the transformed everyday to poetic imagination, including animals, dreams, and cultural nods.
I also draw from landscapes glimpsed, visited, or long-imprinted in my mind, to turn them into recomposed settings. Finally, some works are born from the memory of a news event or a societal fact that moved me enough to want to offer a personal, and often diverted, interpretation of it.
→ View current paintings
→ View animations
🔹 How has your painting style evolved?
A natural evolution toward movement.
My style has evolved significantly over the years. After early works inspired by photos and rigid lines, I felt a need for freedom, undulations, and poetic narration. Forms softened, and perspectives were reinvented.
Little by little, I began to make the lines of architectures ripple, as if I wanted to breathe more life into them. My painting, often meticulous and smooth, sometimes risked freezing the image. Yet, life is movement. This undulation brought a new breath of air to my paintings.
This journey, influenced by comic books, Impressionism, and Surrealism, led me toward a more personal pictorial language: somewhere between Naive Art, Modern Primitivism, and Narrative Surrealism… outside of fixed frames.
Today, this freedom is also expressed through movement: that of animations.
→ View current paintings
→ View About (My process)
→ View "From Yesterday to Today" (Past exhibitions in pictures)
🔹 Why do you create animations from your paintings?
Because it feels like a natural extension of my painting.
Animation came as an obvious step: to extend the movement that my paintings had already begun to suggest. When the lines started to ripple, when the scenes became more narrative, it seemed logical to go further… and literally bring my paintings to life.
It is also a complementary means of expression, staying within the realm of the image without necessarily needing words. I have always wanted my works to speak for themselves, without "blah-blah," without artifice. For me, animation is like a living digital frame that enhances a work without distorting its meaning.
And above all: I prefer to let my paintings take center stage rather than myself. There is no need for me to show myself from every angle… What I want to share is a visual, poetic, and vibrant universe.
→ View animated paintings
For a long time, I painted straight buildings. Then the desire for movement took over… and my cities began to dance.
Techniques and supports
🔹 Which painting techniques do you use?
I work with oil on canvas, starting with an acrylic wash. I then use a scratching technique to reveal certain patterns or textures. Drawing plays a central role in building each composition, with particular attention paid to details, textures, and stylized vegetation.
→ View current paintings
🔹 Why do you paint with oil?
Because it is a living, almost carnal material. Oil offers an incomparable richness of effects, a creaminess under the brush, and a depth in colors that has always fascinated me.
It is with oil that I took my first steps, influenced by the great masters of the past, whose canvases seemed to vibrate with light and life.
It allows for work in finesse, transparency, and layering. It is also a demanding, slow technique, but it is precisely this "slow time" that I enjoy.
And finally, oil stands the test of time: it is a faithful ally in giving works true permanence.
→ View current paintings
🔹How do you create your digital animations?
My animations are designed from my original paintings, which are digitized and then reworked. I add 2D and 3D sequences, playing with rhythms and transitions to extend the visual narrative of the painting.
I combine several animation and editing software programs—between 4 and 5 depending on the needs of each project—to adapt to my visual and narrative ideas. (I prefer not to list specific software, as my goal is not to recommend a technology, and it is not AI that sets my paintings in motion).
This work is often done frame by frame, making it a long and meticulous process at the crossroads of painting and art cinema.
→ View my animated paintings
🔹 How long does it take to complete an artwork?
The time required depends on the format, the complexity of the scene, and especially the narrative elements. A painting can take me anywhere from a few weeks to several months: I take the time necessary to be satisfied with the result.
For several years now, I have also enjoyed stepping out of my comfort zone, exploring new themes and techniques, without restricting myself to what "sells." This joy of painting and creating seems essential to me, both to nourish my artistic approach and to keep my audience engaged.
Animation, for its part, requires even more patience: each sequence is built frame by frame, with significant editing and synchronization work. It is a long process, but deeply stimulating.
→ View current paintings
→ View animated paintings
On one hand, the focused work of oil on canvas; on the other, the patient complexity of frame-by-frame animation. Two complementary gestures, two ways of bringing an artwork to life.
Purchasing an artwork
🔹 Can I purchase an artwork visible on your website?
Yes, most of the paintings featured in the series pages are available for sale (unless otherwise stated). Each artwork includes its price, dimensions, technique, and a detailed description; you can also contact me directly via "chat" or email.
→ Visit the current gallery
→ Contact me
🔹 How can I purchase an artwork visible on the website?
Simply click on the image of the artwork you are interested in: you will be automatically redirected to its dedicated page in the shop.
There, you will find all the relevant information (title, description, price, dimensions, technique…) and a button to proceed with a secure online purchase.
All available paintings are presented in the current gallery or within the thematic series:
→ Revisited landscapes
→ Stylized dreamed landscapes
→ A world of chickens
→ Explore the surrealist paintings
→ Explore the surrealist animal paintings
→ Space
For any questions before purchasing, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
🔹 Are your paintings framed upon delivery?
Most of my paintings are shipped unframed to ensure secure, lightweight delivery tailored to all formats.
This also gives you the freedom to choose a frame according to your personal taste and interior decor.
Upon request, I can offer framing advice or organize custom framing. In this case, please allow for additional time before shipping.
→ You can find all available works in the series on the homepage
→ Contact me
🔹 Is it possible to see an artwork in person before purchasing?
Yes, if you are in the Bordeaux area or passing through the Gironde region, I can arrange a private appointment to allow you to see an artwork in person, either in my studio or at a temporary exhibition venue.
Furthermore, some of my paintings are showcased in temporary exhibitions in other regions of France.
I invite you to check the "Upcoming Exhibitions" section (within the "About" page) to see if a date is scheduled near you.
Feel free to reach out via the "Contact Me" page to arrange an appointment or to ask any questions.
→ View upcoming exhibitions
→ Contact me
🔹 Can I commission a personalized artwork?
Yes, I accept commissions while remaining faithful to my graphic, narrative, and poetic universe.
An initial exchange allows us to define your wishes: format, atmosphere, elements to include, tone...
Once the request is finalized, I require a deposit corresponding to 50% of the final price. This is essential to start the work and covers the research phase.
Upon receipt of the deposit, I will create one or two preparatory sketches for your review. We will then discuss any necessary adjustments before I begin the final realization.
The deposit is only cashed at the very end, after the delivery of the painting.
I do not create strict copies of personal photos, nor do I accept commissions that are too far removed from my artistic sensibility.
Minimum format: 30 x 30 cm or equivalent 5F (35 x 27 cm).
Do you have an idea in mind?
→ Contact me here to discuss it.
🔹 What are the delivery times?
Delivery times vary depending on the availability of the artwork and your location:
For paintings available on the website, delivery typically takes 7 to 10 business days (mainland France) after careful preparation and packaging.
For custom commissions, please allow several weeks, depending on the complexity of the project, the format, prior discussions, and drying time if necessary.
I pay particular attention to packaging and tracking. You will be informed by email once the order has shipped and will receive a tracking number.
For any urgent requests or international delivery, please contact me here before finalizing your order.
→ View contact me
🔹 Can I pay in installments?
🔹 Can I pay in installments?
Yes, it is possible to pay in installments to make acquiring an artwork easier. Several solutions are available:
By Credit Card (via SumUp) or Bank Transfer: We agree on a payment schedule together. Each month, I will send you a secure SumUp payment link or my bank details. In this specific case, the artwork will be shipped or handed over only after the final payment has been received.
Via PayPal: Depending on your account options, PayPal sometimes offers 4-installment payment solutions directly (in this case, I receive the full payment upfront, and the artwork can be shipped immediately).
In Person (Exhibitions or Studio): I accept payments by post-dated checks, handed over on the day of purchase and cashed on the agreed dates (often over 4 or 5 months).
This flexibility allows you to budget for your favorite piece with peace of mind. If you would like to spread out your payment, please contact me here to discuss it.
→ Contact me
A custom-made painting, filmed step by step, from the initial idea to the final package.
Vintazura is a custom-made painting.
Each personalized creation involves attentive guidance: we discuss your wishes, I provide sketches, and then I paint, at my own pace, with high standards.
This short film traces the different stages of a commission: from the initial idea to the final package, through the sketching, the layers of paint... and the smiles.
Being an Artist Today – A Choice of Life
Choosing painting as a life path is not a mere whim or a late-career change. It is a deep-seated commitment, a fragile balance between creative freedom, daily perseverance, and economic reality. In this section, I share a more intimate side of my journey: what it means to me to be an artist today, over the long term, with its doubts, its impulses, and that quiet strength that drives one to create despite everything.
🔹 Have you always been a painter?
Apart from a few student jobs, I chose and committed very early on to devoting myself entirely to painting. Since 1997, it has been my only profession, my passion, and a form of priesthood: a life of artistic exploration, filled with highs, doubts, learning, and moments of grace.
I did not wait for a career change or retirement to discover a vocation. This is not a late-life hobby, but a lifelong journey driven by the necessity to create. I made this life choice consciously, knowing it is demanding and sometimes unstable.
It is often through the most uncertain periods that I have found new strength. Difficult times have forced me to refine my perspective, push my boundaries, and progress as much in my style as in my way of inhabiting the world through painting.
I must say that ego has never been my engine. Having studied art history, I knew from the start that this path is neither easy nor always valued. I was aware of the fates of some major artists who went mad or died in indifference, yet whose works now reach heights on the market. This did not discourage me; quite the opposite. I have always seen painting as an act of sincerity, not a race for recognition.
→ Contact me
→ View "From Yesterday to Today" (Past exhibitions in pictures)
→ In the Press
→ Back to Home
🔹 Has your work traveled internationally?
Yes, my paintings have been fortunate enough to cross borders. Some have joined private collections around the world: Germany, England, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Russia, Japan, Australia, Argentina…
Others have been exhibited in prestigious or institutional venues:
The National Art Center in Tokyo (Japan)
The Polo Museale in Gualdo Tadino (Italy)
The Festival des Arts de Valleyfield (Quebec, Canada), where I traveled in person and received a special mention.
One of my paintings is also on permanent display at the MIANM (International Museum of Naive Art of Magog) in Quebec.
These international experiences have been, at once, human encounters, cultural openings, and precious sources of inspiration.
→ About
→ From Yesterday to Today
🔹 Have you ever been the recipient of corporate sponsorship?
Yes, I have had the pleasure of being supported for several years by companies that opened their doors to me, offered wonderful exhibition opportunities, and accompanied me in my artistic journey.
Mondial Pare-Brise, followed by Mobiglass and Actiglass, have regularly invited me to exhibit in their premises, as well as in prestigious venues such as the Ritz in Paris and the Salons France-Amérique du Marois (Paris).
Ces entreprises m’ont également apporté un soutien précieux sur plusieurs salons d’art, notamment au Grand Marché d’Art Contemporain de la Bastille (GMAC Paris) et à Arts Atlantique (La Rochelle).
Chaque année, ces entreprises me commandaient une peinture originale où figurait une voiture dont elles faisaient l’acquisition des droits
Enfin, Norisko CCTA m’a aussi invitée à exposer à plusieurs reprises dans ses locaux et m'a commandé plusieurs tableaux.
Ces collaborations ont été autant de moments forts, de rencontres, et de reconnaissance, qui m’ont permis de faire vivre mes œuvres dans des contextes variés et d’aller à la rencontre d’un public nouveau.
→ d'hier à aujourd'hui ( expositions passées)
→ A propos
🔹 Does experience really matter in an artistic career?
It’s a valid question. In many fields, competence acquired over time is highly valued. But in art, age can sometimes lead to invisibility. We often celebrate sudden brilliance more than constancy—freshness over depth. It is as if an artist's journey must necessarily resemble a flash in the pan or a soap bubble.
Yet, I believe that art, like any profession or vocation, is also built through experience. The years have taught me rigor, high standards, sincerity, and perseverance... My style has been refined, my themes have expanded, and my way of storytelling through images has grown richer.
I did not choose a sprint, but a marathon. A progressive ascent, marked by milestones, self-reflection, and a return to one’s essence. This choice is not always valued in an era that craves the instantaneous. But it forges a solid body of work, one that endures over time.
Furthermore, age brings a certain freedom: the freedom to create without seeking to please at all costs. To cast one's gaze with accuracy. To keep moving forward... while remaining true to what makes us vibrate.
→ See my series
→ See my animated paintings
