Colette Degenne-Bondroit: 'Painting is a fundamental need'

Originally from Reims (Marne), she settled in Var 35 years ago, after a career as a teacher and nursery school director.

Colette Degenne-Bondroit : « La peinture est un besoin fondamental »

It was in this sunny region that she blossomed artistically, transforming her passion into a true vocation. PASSIONATE The artist started painting in 1990 in a municipal workshop. Her passion for art grew over the years, allowing her to explore various styles and techniques.

Coming from a family of artists, her mother being a watercolorist and musician, she was cradled from childhood by colors and drawing.

She recalls her beginnings: 'I used to draw many Provençal landscapes, discovering with wonder the sky and colors of the region.' Over time, Colette wished to move towards contemporary art, discovering artists such as Philippe Gautier and Zao Wou-Ki whose works expanded her creative horizons.

In parallel, she developed her passion for sculpture, starting about fifteen years ago under the influence of the sculptor Lisa Deck. Her first terracotta works marked the beginning of a new artistic adventure.

Colette Degenne has exhibited regularly in galleries in Orléans and she has participated in fairs in Cannes, in Auvergne and in Var. Her inspiration for sculpture comes from various elements such as yoga postures, dancers, while in painting, she focuses on varied themes: seascapes, musical instruments, and elements of nature.

'Painting is a fundamental need for me. I cannot do without it,' she confides.

She also teaches art at the Maison des Associations where she shares her passion with her students during weekly classes. With more than 32 years of exhibitions, she continues to bring her personal touch to the local art scene, transforming each canvas into an emotional journey.

Her use of oil painting with a palette knife allows her to create suggestive works, where each stroke of the knife reveals a new facet of her.