A journey to Martinique — A source of artistic inspiration

Martinique is an island that is experienced as much as it is observed.

For four weeks, I drew deep inspiration from it, between lush nature, marked history and almost daily artistic practices.

This journey has nourished my artistic vision, my relationship to plants, light, and matter.

Séance de peinture au jardin Balata

Putting down roots in Martinique: nature, light, and early artistic inspirations

I arrived in Martinique on December 1st , discovering our studio in La Trinité, near Tartane . We stayed there for three weeks , and this place quickly became an anchor point, almost a temporary workshop. This artistic journey in Martinique began with a direct immersion in life.

Vue depuis notre studio

Notre copain tous les matins avec le Pèrenoir Rouge-gorge

Our host, Joris , passionate about tropical plants and local fruits, introduced us to a different way of using nature. The atoumo herbal tea we'd brought from mainland France to cure colds, the ambarella plums , starfruit , bitter oranges , and avocados were my first sources of visual and sensory inspiration. Just look at the size of that avocado! Luckily, avocado season is over in December.

Light plays a central role in this stay. From 6 a.m. onwards , we had our little ritual: breakfast in the open kitchen and painting from photos taken the day before or adjusting the small paintings we had created there. In Martinique, the light is direct, ever-changing, sometimes overwhelming, and forces me to focus on the essentials in my artistic practice.

The visit to Château Dubuc , the remains of an 18th-century dwelling, was a powerful first encounter between history and nature. The presence of the strangler fig trees , majestic and symbolic, profoundly nourished my artistic imagination, almost a defiant gesture against history, where nature reclaims its rights in a place that saw hundreds of slaves toiling in the production of sugarcane.

History, architecture and landscapes: a subject for creation

After the installation of the exhibition and the opening (mentioned in my article Floral Harmony ), we explored Fort-de-France , a true cultural crossroads of Martinique.

The murals , the architecture of the Schoelcher library — inspired by the works of Gustave Eiffel —, the Savane and the historical buildings are all forms, lines and structures that naturally interact with each other and nourish the history of the prefectural city.

At the Atrium , the exhibitions by Jordan Béal and Adeline Rapon reinforced my thinking about image, memory, and visual storytelling. I particularly appreciated the scenography of Jordan Béal's works, simple and effective in an almost oppressive atmosphere to highlight his abstract photographs. It makes me want to exhibit there myself! :) Adeline Rapon's work, on the other hand, was born during the Covid pandemic, a beautiful collection of photos that features the artist recreating comforting postcard compositions.

Visiting Saint-Pierre , the island's former capital destroyed during the eruption of Mount Pelée in 1902 , was a particularly moving experience. The ruins, the black volcanic sand, and the sea create a landscape steeped in history, where beauty and memory coexist. I was struck by the discovery of Cyparis's dungeon, the theater, and the ruined church, standing alongside new houses or serving as backdrops for events. From the rubble, nature is reclaiming its territory.

The Depaz distillery , then the one in Saint-James , allowed me to discover another facet of Martinique's identity: agricultural rum, its machines, its gardens, and the deep link between agriculture, territory and culture.

Artistic practice, local traditions and transmission

This trip to Martinique was filled with almost daily artistic practice. I traveled with the painting kit we're putting together for Raoul's Odyssey, including the Sashaline Créa-edged pouch, tubes of gouache, a sketchbook, palette, and paint cup—everything I need to paint absolutely anywhere! I've been testing this palette for a while now; I really like it because it's compact and the silicone lid prevents the paint from drying out. However, I'm thinking of trying a different brand of gouache for this reason. The Windsor & Newton paints are fantastic straight from the tube, but when you need to re-mix them, they become too watercolor-like and lose too much of their smoothness. But they're still quite rich in pigment!

I also did some gouache tests on a larger format; I couldn't resist buying the pad of paper at Cultura, even though half the time it stayed at the exhibition and I didn't use it much...

Speaking of the store, I had the honor of leading a workshop at Cultura Californie in Lamentin , focusing on floral expression and alla prima oil painting . It extends the work begun with the "Floral Harmony" exhibition, exploring gesture, spontaneity, and texture. Odile also offered several workshops on the pouring technique. A huge thank you to the dynamic team; you gave us a truly warm welcome!

Another artistic discovery, the Balata Garden , designed by Jean-Philippe Thoze , is a true work of landscape art. Perhaps the season isn't the most ideal for seeing all the flowers, but I loved the landscape design and I understand why its creator is considered an artist . Every corner of the garden offers a new perspective, a new scene, thanks to the plants brought back from his travels. Time and cyclones continually reshape this verdant haven, yet it endures.

On the sports front, we were lucky enough to see a yole ronde championship. These traditional boats, equipped with a large sail and a crew of about fifteen people, are impressive for their balance: the crew members stand on wooden poles to steer the yole and counterbalance it. It's quite a magical sight, and you can feel how important this sport is in Martinique. I believe it's even listed as intangible cultural heritage , and the island's major companies all have their logos on the boats.

The last few days, between Rivière-Salée , the Caravelle peninsula , the Anses d'Arlet and the encounter with sea turtles, have reinforced this impression: Martinique is an island that inspires deeply, even in moments of slowdown.

Nager avec les tortues à Grande Anse d'Arlet

This trip to Martinique nourished my artistic vision far beyond the stay itself.

Nature, history, light and encounters will surely continue to resonate in my work, influencing my way of painting, composing and communicating.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Odile from the bottom of my heart for sharing this experience with us and for her generosity. I'm really looking forward to continuing our exploration together and welcoming her into our home :)