Sandrot, the vividness of contemporary art

Sandrot, who works freehand, uses her brush to pay vibrant homage to the animal kingdom in both paintings and murals. Of particular note for the mural she designed for the Paris Aquarium, where moray eels and swordfish leap over the wall, and the one in Toulouse, where her gigantic pike seems ready to leap into the Canal du Midi...

LET'S CHAT
 

Hello Sandra and welcome to the UzEssentiel.com portrait gallery.

We always enjoy seeing you at the Galerie Urbaine in Uzès, where you are one of the leading artists.

First of all, when did Sandra become... Sandrot?

Thank you very much for your invitation! It's a pleasure to participate in your blog.

When did Sandra become... Sandrot? That's a very good question... I think I've always been this artist, ever since I was very young. It's been a long journey, I didn't become ‘Sandrot’ overnight, but if I had to give a date, it would probably be 2016. That was the year I created my first outdoor mural.

You said you have been devoted to painting since an early age. I wonder if you come from a family of artists?

Oh no, I don't come from a family of artists, although I have learned that two of my ancestors were renowned painters in their field: Hippolyte and Paul Lazerges.

My parents did everything they could to help me flourish in my art.  At the age of 5, I drew squirrels over and over again, and at 12, I painted my first 2-metre painting. I am 100% self-taught.

However, I supplemented these skills with a technological baccalaureate in applied arts, followed by studies in art restoration.
 

You paint on paper, metal, walls... Is there a material that attracts or inspires you more than another?

I like working with different materials; each medium requires me to adapt my artistic technique. If I had to choose one material, it would definitely be paper.

While frames restrict you somewhat in terms of size, murals allow you to give free rein to your imagination.

How did you get started with your first one? What were the different stages involved in creating it?

I created my first large wall in 2016, in a space dedicated to street art. That's when I discovered working with a pole. I've been using it ever since!  It was surprisingly quick to create because I had to finish it before sunset. So I created it in four hours!

How do you prepare for a mural? Does the subject adapt to the terrain in the sense that it is more or less suggested to you by the surface and its relief, or do you follow the commission to the letter?

The surface, its relief and the location of the wall inspire the subject, and then I let myself be carried away by my inspiration. It's a bit like cave art.

All my murals have their own story, although I think they evolve as my artistic experience grows.

Let's talk about your colour palette... with warm colours feature... Do you have any shades that you prefer over others? Which paint is best suited to your creations? 

The colours come gradually, I add them as a chef would add seasoning to his cooking. I like to add a more or less discreet touch of blue to many of my creations!

What equipment do you use, particularly for murals? We can see that you don't hesitate to climb scaffolding for the most impressive ones. A paintbrush is obviously too small for this kind of work... This is where poles or brush extensions come in, right?

I use scaffolding or cherry pickers for the largest murals. As for the brushes, they are brushes approximately 15 cm wide, which are attached to poles. These brushes may seem small compared to the surfaces being painted (sometimes more than 300 m²), but they allow me to express myself fully and add a lot of detail.

We find your paintings and murals in France... Any projects abroad?

I exhibited in Miami in 2019, as well as in Belgium and Switzerland. I like to explore the spaces around me, and France and its surroundings are full of spaces that inspire me enormously. I still have so much to do here, I don't think I'll get tired of it any time soon!

Your creations are always very successful. Have you ever won any awards?

Yes, I'm delighted with the success of my work!

I won first prize for Contemporary Art at the Salon d'Arts Plastiques in La Rochelle in 2010 (I was 21 years old). It was a wonderful reward.

Apart from the Galerie Urbaine in Uzès, where else in France can we find your work?

Four works are currently on display at the port of Nice, as part of the United Nations Ocean Conference.

Two original paintings, each measuring 6 metres, are also on display at the Natural History Museum in Marseille, for the ‘Oceans’ exhibition, which has welcomed more than 60,000 visitors since it opened in June.

My work is also on display at the Parcelle 473 Contemporary Art Museum in Montpellier and at the Château du Barroux in Vaucluse.

Finally, do you sometimes organise Master Classes to introduce or perfect the knowledge of amateurs or professionals?

Yes! I have launched a 16-course Master Class training programme to introduce or perfect artistic practice. These are 16 exclusive video courses that can be viewed at your own pace, from home, whenever you want!

Now, carte blanche. What would you like to add?

I just would like to thank the people who support my work, sometimes from afar, through social media for example. Their support is essential to my work. I wouldn't be where I am today without their tremendous support! 

Many thanks to Sandrot for her collaboration on this article.

The right address: Sandrot, contact: art@sandrot.com.