Born in Marseille, Christophe MOREAU is a French artist.
Self-taught, he has experimented extensively, handling oil paint, pastel and even modelling before returning to the techniques he learned as a child: gouache, watercolour and, above all, pencil.
Observation plays a large part in his artistic development, influenced by the work of Dürer, Vermeer, Ingres and Seurat. Particularly touched by their drawings and engravings, he has retained a special attraction for black and white, its subtle rendering and evocative power. He loves precision and working with light, which plays a central role in his work.
The main one is watercolour: like a wash, layer after layer of pencil, he brings out the colours and contrasts with greater precision than a painter, thanks to the finesse of the lead. The painting is constructed zone by zone.
When the subject requires it, the work is reversed, in a way that resembles sculpture. Large layers of graphite powder are applied to the paper and fused together using a blur. Using different erasers, he then sculpts the material to define the shapes and outline the final drawing.
Although he works from photographs, Christophe MOREAU takes a personal look at reality in each work.
Moreau works exclusively in pencil, creating works that can bear a striking resemblance to photographs, and his drawings often require days or even weeks of work to achieve the desired result.
