Christophe Vacher

Genre: Fantasy art

Artist's website: www.vacher.com

About the artist:

A native of France, Christophe Vacher has provided backgrounds and visual development for Walt Disney Feature Animation and the animation industry since 1989. He worked for Disney's Paris-based animation studio for three years, where he painted backgrounds for animated films like The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Relocating to California in 1996, he continued his association with Disney, including painting backgrounds for Hercules and Tarzan. He left the Disney studios in February 2002 to share his time between his personal artwork for galleries and movie studios work. Joining Dreamworks studios in 2004 he worked on concept artwork and paintings for movies like Shark Tale.

Vacher says, "It is hard for me to discuss my own work; like your own handwriting, it is something that at this point is simply a part of me. People often ask me: 'What inspires you to paint?' or 'What's the meaning of your paintings?' Well, my work is mostly inspired by music, travel and personal experiences.

"Each painting can either put you in another world, in the middle of a story or simply be the expression in symbols of my inner feelings. 'The Messengers' for instance, was painted after my first trip to Ireland in 1995. 'The Rebirth' was partly inspired by my moving to the USA in 1996. Pieces like 'The Canyon', 'The Legacy' or 'Mount of the Immortals' are more abstract in their meaning and express more personal reflections.

"In terms of technique, I generally work on canvas prepared with two coats of gesso. I do a pencil sketch on paper, then on the canvas before painting with oils and alkyds or acrylic.

"Even though animation has helped me a lot in practicing my skills, my actual style is influenced by old schools like the Hudson River, The Romantics and the European Symbolists for their grandiose, theatrical scenery; my style has also been shaped by contemporary artists like Sandorfi, Beksinski, Ugarte and The Visionaries (Les Visionnaires) in France. All of these I credit for their striking visions."

Ecards on Wicked Moon:

Angels
Castles
Faeries
Fantasy
Fantasy Women
Landscapes
Miss You