Today we’d like to introduce you to Oceane Perez.
Hi Oceane, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am originally from France, I was born in the North, between Belgium and the coast. I moved to the South of France when I was 18 years old, for College, and then decided to move to Texas in 2021, for love. This story didn’t work out well, so I decided to rewrite my own this time, and to let my passions lead my days.
I have always been into drawing, I started when I was a kid, and I remember this one project in class in 2nd grade, when we had to draw animals from the dictionary. I made a black panther and was shocked at how well it looked. So I kept drawing and having fun. In College, I found out a passion about colors and played around a lot with color pencils, alcohol markers and watercolor. Realism was a big part of my style. It’s during Covid that I found out about Japanese foor art, and started drawing food illustrations. It became a big part of my life, as I started drawing things I was craving but couldn’t access, like French pastries.
Now, I love the idea of keeping emotional food alive, through a longer time than you can digest. My illustrations all come from a place of love, nostalgia or good moments spent with people you love.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest challenge was to start believing in myself. I know, it’s cliche. But the imposter syndrome is real, and it will make every path take twice the time, if not more.
I used to believe that selling my art was above my capabilities, that no one would even look at my booth. Well it turns out if you love something, chances are other people in the world do to ! I jumped on the opportunity to sell at one market I randomly saw on Instagram, printed a few illustrations, and it started it all ! From there, you meet people and they tell you about the next market. I also keep a little notebook with me at all times so I can write down things I would improve the next time, sells, ideas…
I think it’s important to separate big projects in little steps and give yourself the benefit of the doubt. Also, buy a wagon for markets !!! Your back will thank you. Haha
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create food illustrations with watercolor or digitally, that I print on stickers, little cards and posters. I love the idea of keeping a bite of life around, having your comfort food without the calories. My ideas come from my cravings, but also from the people around me asking me specific ones, as their own comfort food. I take inquiries so in case you can’t find the one comfort food you’re craving, let me know !
Also, my website is in construction and should appear online this summer ! In the meantime, people can follow me on Instagram and stay updated that way ! 🙂
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters the most to me is to share the emotion through my art. When I hear people yell towards my booth “I’m hungry now !” I laugh and say “Then it’s working”. I want people to experience my visual art with all their senses, and for my art to look so yummy, it reaches people’s other senses, and in a glimpse, they can imagine the smell and taste of that barbecue plate.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://oceansmote.wixsite.com/home/about
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oceansmote/
