Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlotte Vanhaecke (aka Chalavie)
Hi CHARLOTTE, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Originally from the north of France, I lived in the US for almost 20 years and been a full time artist now for over 10 years.
Living as a full time artist has always been something I wanted to since I was a child. Being told at a young age that this wasnt really a “livable option”, my path took many years and turns to get there. I am now living my first aspiration.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being told at a young age that this wasnt really a “livable option”, my path took many years and turns to get there. The struggles I met along the way was the pressure of going to school to get some kind of certification that would allow you to get a “real” job. After high school, I did a year in a communication school that was really marketing driven and I wasn’t really into it then I went to university and study literature, something that I had always enjoyed but I didn’t want to be a teacher at the time and wasn’t sure of where this was taking me to. Then I decide to study abroad that’s when I got to the US, in 2005, I thought I will learn English and that learning another language would be more helpful and I ended up doing a certificate at ucla extension in art and communication which would lead me in being a graphic designer. After that I worked as a graphic designer part time and other jobs but working on a computer was not something that fulfilled me. I am an hands on person. By Practicing my art on the side and starting sharing it with the world I got really good responses . I also started meeting the community of artists in Mar Vista at the Grand View Fine Art Studios (which no longer exists) which really helped me pursue what I had always envisioned for myself since I am a child. I ended up getting a studio there and stayed happily there for almost 10 years until the building was bought and torned down. All the artists had to split up and I find my own space in Hawthorne near space x where I have my studio now. I share it with my husband who does carpentry and upholstery. Living as an artist comes with ups and downs. Moving from my WestSide studio were I was established was definitely a challenge. Even if I am not that far I definitely get less impromptu studio visits. I organized regularly some “open studio “ where the public is welcome or you can schedule a studio visit which is always the best way to grasp the diversity of my work
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work evolves with me. My main practice is painting but I am not limited to that. I love exploring new materials and what s available around me. Lately I have been working on a series of wood Assemblage using all my husband wood’s scrap. I see potential and find something to create in anything I find or feel. I am really ressourcefull and People that know me always bring me materials , objects or equipment that they don’t need anymore as they know I will probably end up making something out of it.
My art journey is not boring to me I can paint a mural, make sculptures , carve some wood , refresh an old piece of furniture, work on a series of paintings that unconsciously depict a moment or feeling of reality in life that I believe each human experience and will experience when it is time.
When I make art I usually don’t know why I m making what I m making at the moment. I m just channeling. I m able to talk about it later when I have distance from it and tell myself “interesting… I guess I was going through that and this is what came out” .
This year I had the opportunity to paint a mural for Nourish La , a wonderful non-profit that redirect and distribute food to the community. I got to paint their container on site where they hold their food distribution every Sunday. If you drive on Sawtelle (near National) , you have probably seen it , it s right by the UCLA Village Housing.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I guess the one thing right now is that I m working on my biggest creation so far, my first child coming in May this year. I know this will probably affect my art by channeling new directions and I can’t wait to see what’s coming.
Someone actually pointed at me that last year I had been working a lot on abstract human figures, a lot of them depicting a person In fetus position and floating in gold wave. I had called that series “Riding the Wave” which to me is a metaphor for life . He said I unconsciously manifested it .
Pricing:
- Mural starts at $1500
- Commission art starts at $800
- Art and paintings from $200 to $10,000
- Consultations/ideas start at $100
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.chalavie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chalavie
- Facebook: Https://www.facebook.com/chalavie/
Image Credits
NADIA STANTON
ELIOT Brusman
