Artist Biography
Sébastien Montel is an expressionist painter, blending figurative and abstract elements of painting into his own interpretations
Sébastien was born in Nice, France, and exhibited an early passion for sketching and drawing. He initially honed his skills by replicating well-known cartoons such as Tintin and Asterisk. To nurture Sébastien’s artistic interests, his mother enrolled him in art and music classes. He greatly admired Cabu, a prominent French caricaturist, and was impressed by Cabu's effortless sketching and impactful figures
With a supportive artistic environment and family members involved in the arts, Sébastien continued to develop his talents. During his teenage years, he attended painting and engraving classes at L’École Municipale d’arts plastiques in Nice. As an adult living in Paris, France, he received mentorship from Ousseynou Sarr, an internationally renowned painter from Senegal and sharpened his techniques in oil paint and collage
Sébastien was introduced to famed historical painter Paul Conte during a family visit to Nice, France. Paul Conte, known for his distinguished artwork, was commissioned in 2012 to restore the paintings of the chapel in Saint-Paul de Vence. Sébastien appreciated Paul's identification as a "peintre à programme", meaning he requires a subject matter beyond painting itself to develop his works and evoke memories. Inspired by this approach, Sébastien adopted the "peintre à programme" philosophy for his own artwork and subsequently exhibited his pieces at Paul Conte’s gallery, Galerie Saleya. Paul Conte became one of the first collectors of Sébastien's work
Upon relocating to California in 2016, Sébastien met Senegalese painter Djibril N’Doye, who introduced him to wood engraving. Djibril shared stories about his native Senegal and the inspirations behind his artwork, encouraging Sébastien to exhibit his own work at local art fairs and museums
Sébastien’s Painting Style
Sébastien has been influenced by early twentieth-century artists of the Fauvism movement. Painters like Kees van Dongen, Egon Schiele, Henri Matisse, Francis Bacon, and Amadeo Modigliani influenced his artistic expression. Malerisch brushstrokes and strong, bold colors are representative features of many of Sébastien's artworks
Sébastien’s passion for painting stems from his interest in movement, color, and human nature. Many times, black and white photography inspires his creation on canvas
Sébastien has studied the human psyche extensively and received a Ph.D. in Psychology at Université Paris Descartes in Paris, France. His academic training has served as a backdrop for his creativity and expression in art. His paintings pose a slight rebellion to standard painting techniques, revealing a deep reflection of human sensibility, emotional expression, and inner nature
Sébastien’s Painting Technique
Sébastien primarily uses oil paint on linen canvas for his artwork and always experiments with new mediums. His recent pieces feature mixed media, collage, engraving, and oil paint on wood, allowing him to create movement within a more defined context
He has developed his unique color palette through a process of color blending until he achieves the desired color to capture just the right effect, often giving the impression of uncontoured, unrestrained brushstrokes
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