The truth behind…
Bonjour my little demon,
These past two weeks, I had a kind of epiphany.
I know... it’s been a while since we last spoke. The truth is, I needed to center myself on the collection, which honestly felt stuck.
Lost in an ocean of possibilities, I found myself paralyzed.
I told myself: Oh no, I promised them a collection, and I’ve been drowning in its planning for weeks... I’m a disappointment.
But instead of wallowing, I did what always works when I’m stuck: I talked to a fellow artist. And all it took was a very simple question:
Léa, why do you create today? What do you want to say with your art?
It hit me like a shockwave.
Yes, keep it simple. You don’t need to say and show everything. Just one thing that truly matters to you.
I packed up my things.
Went home.
And started to draw.
Today, I’m sharing the first two portraits from my collection.
The fruit of what matters most to me.
The one thing I have to say…
My “why” as an artist… the one I’m finally ready to fully embrace:
PART 1: What could have stained this once immaculate face?
This portrait reveals the Dragonfly Queen in a moment of reckoning. Her name was once a whisper among the trees, a force that kept the forests and marshes alive. But now, her kingdom stands in ruins—her sacred marshes dried up, and her forest turned to ash. When her dragonfly sentinels vanished, the Queen’s sorrow turned to rage. For the first time in millennia, the Immaculate Queen with ethereal wings has emerged from her sanctuary, determined to reclaim what was lost and bring her judgment upon humankind.
This piece highlights the destruction of natural ecosystems, like marshes and forests, and the loss of biodiversity. I wanted to capture the pain of losing something vital and express the anger over the devastation—a rage so deep that it can transform even the most pure-hearted spirit into a monstrous muse stained with blood. This is both an attempt to raise awareness on environmental justice and to reflect on one of the most human feelings: seeking justice.
PART 2: You are the very first to see this piece…
This graphite portrait captures the Spirit of the Rhino in quiet lamentation. Once a sacred guide to the wild herds, she is now haunted by humanity’s relentless pursuit—their greed for horns turning her world to ruin. With the last survivors, she flees, forsaking the freedom and grandeur they once knew. Sheltered in a fragile sanctuary, her gaze now carries the sorrow of a world slipping away—a silent lament for the fallen.
This piece is a humble attempt to shed light on the tragic fate of rhinos, listed among endangered species. Hunted for centuries for their horns, what should have been their greatest pride became their curse. It’s also a reflection on sanctuaries, those places (where I’ve worked during my travels) striving to protect wildlife, where a sense of safety mingles with the inevitable pain of what has been lost.
Voilà, my friend, I’m heading back to my pencils because there’s so much more to tell you.
And before you go, just a reminder: you can still join the Portrait Gems (Every week, get one portrait lesson to level up your drawings). Don’t miss out on a single gem—simply join here!
Je t’embrasse,
Léa