Back to Creating with Lory Louves
Back to Creating with Lory Louves
We jump into the world of Lory Louves, a Parisian contemporary artist who straddles the vibrant art scenes of London and Paris. We'll explore how these cultural hubs influence his work, how he finds inspiration, and the unique connection he builds with viewers through his art. From overcoming creative roadblocks to advice for aspiring creatives, this conversation offers a glimpse into the mind and passion of a truly captivating artist. Reignite your creative spirit ahead of Back to School season.
School and university can be places of both structure and self-discovery. How did your school experience influence your artistic journey?
“Well, I studied Communication and Advertising, which isn't directly related to Art. But, I always gravitated towards the more creative side of the industry. I was the one taking the lead on creative campaigns, always drawn to that creative outlet.
Then came a point where I really questioned my career path. "What am I doing?" I thought. "This needs to be more about me and the feelings, thoughts and stories I want to share. At that time, I was already painting, but just for fun.
But I understood, I had an audience and there was a demand, so I went along with it. It wasn't like a grand declaration of "I'm an artist!" But more about enjoying the process without pressure knowing there was people on the receiving end ready to share the journey with me.”
Then came a point where I really questioned my career path. "What am I doing?" I thought. "This needs to be more about me and the feelings, thoughts and stories I want to share. At that time, I was already painting, but just for fun.
But I understood, I had an audience and there was a demand, so I went along with it. It wasn't like a grand declaration of "I'm an artist!" But more about enjoying the process without pressure knowing there was people on the receiving end ready to share the journey with me.”
How do you find inspiration when you're feeling stuck? Are there any unexpected places that help you find your creative fuel?
“Back in the day, Street Art was a massive influence for me, with all the colours, everything With thick black lines, structured, geometrical, that kind of thing. It felt like that was me, you know, my personality, how I was projecting myself at that time.
But eventually, I moved on from the black lines, the block of colours, shapes and lines. I started merging it all together, creating more abstract pieces with loads of mouvement in them. Often echoing the Music I listen to, the moods I am in. I also went from smaller format to bigger ones which helps make the expression more vast and rich. I always loved the bigger formats. My dream show would have huge canvases on the walls, so you could sit in front of them and get lost for hours.
That's basically how I see things. It's the kind of stuff I enjoy doing when I go to shows or galleries: Find the big abstract paintings and being able to just stare at something for ages. It's a different experience. You see so much detail. There’s also this whole technical side to it, trying to understand how the artist even made it happen.”
But eventually, I moved on from the black lines, the block of colours, shapes and lines. I started merging it all together, creating more abstract pieces with loads of mouvement in them. Often echoing the Music I listen to, the moods I am in. I also went from smaller format to bigger ones which helps make the expression more vast and rich. I always loved the bigger formats. My dream show would have huge canvases on the walls, so you could sit in front of them and get lost for hours.
That's basically how I see things. It's the kind of stuff I enjoy doing when I go to shows or galleries: Find the big abstract paintings and being able to just stare at something for ages. It's a different experience. You see so much detail. There’s also this whole technical side to it, trying to understand how the artist even made it happen.”
How do you feel when you’re looking at these huge pieces of art, does it inspire you?
“Everybody has their own experience with art, visual art, you know? It's like you have a conversation with what you see, even more so with Abstract Art. Your brain kind of processes it differently every time you're going to look at a piece of art, especially something you like and go back to often or if that’s something you own.
It's because as an artist I'm not telling you ‘this is that’, I'm letting you imagine whatever you want it to be. It's subjective. For me, it's all about expressing my feelings and thoughts. So I give titles and I give names to pieces, but once it's yours, it's for you to interpret.
You're going to look at it differently every day and you have a different perspective on it every day. You're going to find new things every day. Which is kind of special to me, that’s what inspires me to continue to express myself this way.
It's because as an artist I'm not telling you ‘this is that’, I'm letting you imagine whatever you want it to be. It's subjective. For me, it's all about expressing my feelings and thoughts. So I give titles and I give names to pieces, but once it's yours, it's for you to interpret.
You're going to look at it differently every day and you have a different perspective on it every day. You're going to find new things every day. Which is kind of special to me, that’s what inspires me to continue to express myself this way.
What advice would you give to young people who are interested in exploring their creativity through art or music? Is there anything you wish you knew when you were starting out?
“Avoid putting too much pressure on yourselves.
Looking back, maybe I would tell my younger self to "go for it" a little more, not to be afraid to just create. I probably overthought it at times, worrying about what it meant to be an artist or the purpose behind my work. But in hindsight, that questioning helped me define who I am as an artist today. So I am still grateful for the way it happened.
The first few years were tough. I felt pressure to constantly produce work, exhibit it, and worry about things like studio space and finances. Of course, I don't regret that time, I did what I felt I had to do. But now, I see the value in simply enjoying the process. There's so much talent out there, especially in places like London and Paris. The ones who "make it" are often the ones who are bold and put themselves out there. It doesn't necessarily mean they're the most talented, but they're the ones actively creating and sharing their work.
Think of that one person constantly posting videos online – they're the ones getting seen, not the talented yet not so confident person quietly creating in the background. That's why I did many shows – I needed to understand the art world and get my work in front of people. So it exists beyond a phone screen.”
Looking back, maybe I would tell my younger self to "go for it" a little more, not to be afraid to just create. I probably overthought it at times, worrying about what it meant to be an artist or the purpose behind my work. But in hindsight, that questioning helped me define who I am as an artist today. So I am still grateful for the way it happened.
The first few years were tough. I felt pressure to constantly produce work, exhibit it, and worry about things like studio space and finances. Of course, I don't regret that time, I did what I felt I had to do. But now, I see the value in simply enjoying the process. There's so much talent out there, especially in places like London and Paris. The ones who "make it" are often the ones who are bold and put themselves out there. It doesn't necessarily mean they're the most talented, but they're the ones actively creating and sharing their work.
Think of that one person constantly posting videos online – they're the ones getting seen, not the talented yet not so confident person quietly creating in the background. That's why I did many shows – I needed to understand the art world and get my work in front of people. So it exists beyond a phone screen.”
All of your art is created using just the paint and your hands. How did this start, and can you add extra expression to your work using this method? When you start out with a blank canvas, do you have any idea what you're going to put on it? Do you have a rough idea?
“Yeah, my whole journey so far has been about trying to replicate what's in my head and turn it into something physical. My sole job is to take what's in my head and my heart and kind of just translate it onto the canvas.
Sometimes it's harder because you have a picture in your head and you're just like, "Cool, I need to replicate that.” But organically, you just find ways to do it. There's never a moment when I look at something and I think, "This doesn't look like how I wanted it to look.” so I just have to trust the process, let the energy and follow the guiding force.
Sometimes it's harder because you have a picture in your head and you're just like, "Cool, I need to replicate that.” But organically, you just find ways to do it. There's never a moment when I look at something and I think, "This doesn't look like how I wanted it to look.” so I just have to trust the process, let the energy and follow the guiding force.
At Dickies, we are so inspired by Lory. His journey and experience is all about embracing creativity, no matter your background or experience. Remember, creating shouldn't be a chore. It's a chance to explore, experiment, and express yourself. So, take a deep breath, let go of perfectionism, and allow yourself to discover the fun of creating.