Sonia Isabelle is a visual artist from Quebec. She holds a degree in Fine Arts from Cégep de Valleyfield, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), a major in Graphic Design and Illustration from Concordia University and a specialization in Cultural Mediation.
Recipient of grants from the Conseil des arts et de la culture de Vaudreuil-Soulanges in Quebec and the Society of Artists of Canada, this award-winning visual artist has exhibited her work regionally, nationally and internationally.
Her work can be found in various public, corporate and private collections.
Approach
I'm fascinated by people. My aim is to reproduce, with authenticity, moments of everyday life captured on film. Beyond simple representation, I strive to bring out the emotion emanating from my protagonist.
Inspired by the work of twentieth-century street photographers such as Sabine Weiss and Vivian Maier, in my work I seek to deliver a sensitive and honest visual testimony to my times and to the relationship between humans and their environment.
Using my cell phone, I capture scenes that capture my attention and serve as the basis for my creative process. Inspired by these spontaneous photos, taken while I'm anonymously rubbing shoulders with my subject in his or her environment, I seek to highlight themes that reflect the reality of my time. Using graphite pencil as my medium, I create finely detailed works. Little by little, black and white are broken down into infinite hues, revealing shapes, textures and light. To these monochrome hues, which bring the subject to the foreground, colored areas are sometimes added.
Teamwork for success
A career as an artist requires skills in several areas in addition to talent: administration and marketing among others. Another facet of the career that isn't often talked about, despite the fact that it's essential, is the need to be comfortable working with your hands. This is essential, you guessed it, at exhibitions and symposia. For all this, Sonia can rely on Daniel, her husband and almost full-time business partner.
Present at all events, don't hesitate to talk to him. He knows the artist's approach inside out and knows all about the techniques she uses to create her detailed drawings.
