Le Chapeau is a young artist from the Eunice Louisiana area I was lucky enough to make friends with right as I arrived here. I love his work and after conversations with him I realized he's a funny and interesting person, perfect for this little peek into the lives and heads of my fellow artists. Enjoy!!
What started it all? If we go all the way back to the beginning, I’d have to say that it was my mother that got me interested in art. She was always painting or crafting something. It was fascinating for me to see what you could create with things like glue and Popsicle sticks. Later on I liked to watch my older brother draw things. I was always a little jealous because I couldn’t do it myself. But I found joy in tracing other pictures. It wasn’t until I started college that I began to draw things on my own. I took every class that my school offered. It wasn’t until I had taken photography that I realized I wanted to be an artist. I think it was all the time I spent in the dark room. It was never about the finished product for me. It was the joy I found in creating.
Whats your favorite medium? I try not to stick to one medium for too long; it makes things boring for me. But I’d have to say that my favorite medium is acrylic paint. I just like to see the colors form into shapes and shades and come to life as I apply them to a solid surface.
What makes you different? Do you have any artistic quirks? I only use primary colors and black and white when I paint. It makes painting more personal and natural for me. To know that I made everything, including the colors. Sometimes it takes me an abnormally long amount of time to finish one piece. I have this habit of starting way too many things at one time. I think the longest it took me to finish something was a year.
What inspires Le Chapeau? Inspiration can come from many places for me. When clouds form with shades of blue and orange and the sky looks a giant impressionist painting. Comic books, I study the panels for things that make drawing the human form easier (I have trouble with that). And I like to see how different lighting positions can affect the whole mood. Sometimes it can be a random word that someone says. Most of the time the piece itself inspires the rest of the piece. I never have the whole thing figured out when I start. I just start and the piece takes on a life of its own. I love it when that happens. It feels completely natural to me.
What about the "muse" people refer to? I believe that all is from God, and my inspiration couldn’t be more of a direct link from him to me. I pray before I start any painting or drawing session. I’d like for people to see him in my work and if someone likes my work id hope that they can see it is only good because the lord has guided me.
Who are some of the artists your inspired by? I never wanted to paint until I saw some of Claude Monet’s work. I think it was “impressionist sunrise” that made me want to try out painting. Impressionism just seemed like the perfect style to me. I also like people like George Seurat and Chuck Close, I enjoy seeing the work of anyone who has that extensive a knowledge of colors and how they work together.
What does your creation playlist look like? I like to listen to a variety of things while I’m creating. Punk, blues, electronic music, rock, rap, jazz…sometimes country
What would you say is your style? I can’t honestly say what my style would be. I guess you could call it impressionism, but it’s really not. You can see my brush strokes; I mix the colors on the painting surface, instead of mixing them and then placing them. That just feels natural to me. I’ve said that a lot haven’t I? Is Natural a style? If it isn’t then it is now and I just made it up. Go me.
Art school or self taught? I learned everything I know about painting and drawing techniques at school.
Do you have any pet peeves with art or commission work? I’m not going to come out and say that commission work bothers me. I’m very blessed and fortunate to get the work that I do get. However, once I was asked to draw something “normal” and not in my “weird style”. I just didn’t understand why they chose me if they didn’t want the piece to look like I did it at all.
Any advice to the youngsters dreaming of getting into art? Advice I have for those wanting to get into art: don’t go into it expecting to be the next Van Gogh or Picasso. It’s ultimately up to how well the media receives your art to decide how famous you’re going to be. This adds unnecessary pressure on you. Don’t compare your work to others. Your work is yours and theirs is theirs therefore it is incomparable. This also adds a lot of unnecessary pressure on you. Just have fun with it, do your best. And if you’re expecting results then don’t be lazy about it, take the time to learn your craft.
Below are just a few of his creations! After you peep them go check out more of his work and Like his FB page to stay up to date with his creations!
https://www.facebook.com/LeChapeau16
What started it all? If we go all the way back to the beginning, I’d have to say that it was my mother that got me interested in art. She was always painting or crafting something. It was fascinating for me to see what you could create with things like glue and Popsicle sticks. Later on I liked to watch my older brother draw things. I was always a little jealous because I couldn’t do it myself. But I found joy in tracing other pictures. It wasn’t until I started college that I began to draw things on my own. I took every class that my school offered. It wasn’t until I had taken photography that I realized I wanted to be an artist. I think it was all the time I spent in the dark room. It was never about the finished product for me. It was the joy I found in creating.
Whats your favorite medium? I try not to stick to one medium for too long; it makes things boring for me. But I’d have to say that my favorite medium is acrylic paint. I just like to see the colors form into shapes and shades and come to life as I apply them to a solid surface.
What makes you different? Do you have any artistic quirks? I only use primary colors and black and white when I paint. It makes painting more personal and natural for me. To know that I made everything, including the colors. Sometimes it takes me an abnormally long amount of time to finish one piece. I have this habit of starting way too many things at one time. I think the longest it took me to finish something was a year.
What inspires Le Chapeau? Inspiration can come from many places for me. When clouds form with shades of blue and orange and the sky looks a giant impressionist painting. Comic books, I study the panels for things that make drawing the human form easier (I have trouble with that). And I like to see how different lighting positions can affect the whole mood. Sometimes it can be a random word that someone says. Most of the time the piece itself inspires the rest of the piece. I never have the whole thing figured out when I start. I just start and the piece takes on a life of its own. I love it when that happens. It feels completely natural to me.
What about the "muse" people refer to? I believe that all is from God, and my inspiration couldn’t be more of a direct link from him to me. I pray before I start any painting or drawing session. I’d like for people to see him in my work and if someone likes my work id hope that they can see it is only good because the lord has guided me.
Who are some of the artists your inspired by? I never wanted to paint until I saw some of Claude Monet’s work. I think it was “impressionist sunrise” that made me want to try out painting. Impressionism just seemed like the perfect style to me. I also like people like George Seurat and Chuck Close, I enjoy seeing the work of anyone who has that extensive a knowledge of colors and how they work together.
What does your creation playlist look like? I like to listen to a variety of things while I’m creating. Punk, blues, electronic music, rock, rap, jazz…sometimes country
What would you say is your style? I can’t honestly say what my style would be. I guess you could call it impressionism, but it’s really not. You can see my brush strokes; I mix the colors on the painting surface, instead of mixing them and then placing them. That just feels natural to me. I’ve said that a lot haven’t I? Is Natural a style? If it isn’t then it is now and I just made it up. Go me.
Art school or self taught? I learned everything I know about painting and drawing techniques at school.
Do you have any pet peeves with art or commission work? I’m not going to come out and say that commission work bothers me. I’m very blessed and fortunate to get the work that I do get. However, once I was asked to draw something “normal” and not in my “weird style”. I just didn’t understand why they chose me if they didn’t want the piece to look like I did it at all.
Any advice to the youngsters dreaming of getting into art? Advice I have for those wanting to get into art: don’t go into it expecting to be the next Van Gogh or Picasso. It’s ultimately up to how well the media receives your art to decide how famous you’re going to be. This adds unnecessary pressure on you. Don’t compare your work to others. Your work is yours and theirs is theirs therefore it is incomparable. This also adds a lot of unnecessary pressure on you. Just have fun with it, do your best. And if you’re expecting results then don’t be lazy about it, take the time to learn your craft.
Below are just a few of his creations! After you peep them go check out more of his work and Like his FB page to stay up to date with his creations!
https://www.facebook.com/LeChapeau16