Catherine Mentior‘s work is filled with a mixture of colors and light that inspires joy when people view it. Between reds and greens, blues and yellows, her compositions are reminiscent of Impressionism and will leave no one indifferent to contemporary art lovers.
« With a passion for vibrant colors, my artwork is infused with energy, intuition, and profound emotion»
What are your origins and why did you dedicate yourself to painting?
I am a self-taught Belgian painter whose artistic journey began with watercolor landscapes created in my leisure time during 30 years, all while pursuing a professional career as a lawyer and later as a Communication Manager in international companies.
This dual life, while rewarding, often left my creative spirit yearning for more. It wasn’t until I faced burn-out that I found the courage to fully embrace my passion for painting.
In 2020, I transitioned to fluid, intuitive, and vibrant acrylic painting, allowing for a more expressive and liberating form of Art. This shift in medium marked a significant turning point, freeing me from the constraints of representing reality and enabling me to dive into my inner feelings and sensations in a kind of meditative experience.
Once I began, I could not stop and became incredibly creative and productive. By the end of the lockdowns, I had around 90 canvases in my living room and decided to show them to the world, eager to see if they could evoke a positive impact on others’ minds and souls.
It became apparent that the fluid movement of my paintings, the dynamic touch, and the brightness of the colors imparted a communicative joy, positively influencing the mood of those who engaged with them. This is the feedback I received from my exhibitions.
Since 2021, I have actively exhibited my paintings in various venues, including restaurants, businesses, hotels, coworking spaces, and medical centers.
You’ve said that art has the power to heal and revitalize. Do you think your unique style of painting helps those who view your work feel better?
With a passion for vibrant colors, my artwork is infused with energy, intuition, and profound emotion. My paintings radiate a joyful essence, embodying the spirit of life and positivity.
Through abstract forms and impressions of lush gardens, each artwork serves as a celebration of color and mood, inviting viewers to engage with a sense of happiness and light. Each piece is an invitation to explore joy and inspiration, celebrating the beauty of life through abstract forms and impressions of nature.
The luminous colors in my work evoke positive emotions, ranging from joyful and dynamic to serene and relaxing. My paintings are designed to uplift the spirit and enhance the mood, making them a delightful addition to any space.
As an artist, I am driven by a deep desire to express emotions and connect with others through my work. The vibrant colors and dynamic forms I use are not just aesthetic choices; they reflect my inner experiences and my perceptions of the beauty of the world around me.
The process of creating art is incredibly liberating for me. It allows me to explore my intuition and experiment with different techniques, leading to unexpected and joyful outcomes. I find inspiration in everyday life, nature, and the emotions I encounter, which fuels my creativity and keeps my work interesting and engaging.
Additionally, I am motivated by the impact my art can have on viewers. Knowing that my paintings can uplift someone’s mood and well-being or provide a moment of reflection inspires me to continue creating. I want my art to serve as a source of positivity and inspiration, transforming spaces and enriching lives.
I strive to create artwork that resonates on an emotional level, evoking feelings that range from serenity to exuberance. Knowing that my paintings can positively influence someone’s mood or provide a moment of reflection is incredibly motivating. I pour my heart into every piece, hoping to create a connection that brings comfort and joy to others.
My drive comes from a combination of personal expression, the joy of creativity, and the meaningful connections I hope to foster with those who experience my work.
What motivated you to dedicate yourself to art?
Painting is, for me, a source of positive energy. It creates around me a bubble of well-being, free from constraints and stress—an escape from reality and a connection with my inner self that has become vital for my mental well-being, especially after experiencing burn-out five years ago.
The profound well-being and inner peace I feel when painting reflect in my artworks.
They help me connect daily with my inner truth, positivity, and joy of expression.
The sense of peace and joy I feel while creating is reflected in my work, and it fuels my desire to share these emotions and passion for painting with others, highlighting the positive effects Art can have on our lives.
4.- There are great painters in your country. How have they influenced your work?
I started with very intuitive paintings, far from reality and entirely abstract, filled with colors and movement. Eventually, I began to think about the primary feelings associated with childhood—like the excitement of putting fingers into paint or watching sunlight filter through trees and reflect in the water of rivers and lakes.
I later recognized that my work carries an impressionistic touch linked to the subjects I chose to paint: sunlight, nature, vegetation, water, lakes, and willows. This realization revealed a subconscious influence from the French Impressionist painters I admire, such as Monet and Van Gogh. It was a delightful discovery to see that my pursuit of light, reflection, and movement in landscapes was aligned with their artistic journey.
However, it was never my intention to copy their work; rather, it was about sharing a similar sensitivity to the way they expressed their emotions through colors, light, and movement.
What does art mean for you?
Art has become my favorite medium for expressing who I am, what I feel, and how I perceive the beauty of existence. It also represents liberty and diversity. Sensitivity to art is deeply personal and individual, implying no judgment; it simply reflects how you feel and perceive it.
A piece of art either speaks to you or it doesn’t. When it does, it creates a wonderful connection between the artist and the viewer—a kind of recognition and complicity like a shared secret. Art serves as a remarkable way to communicate and share feelings across our differences, realities, races, and cultures. This emotional connection is what binds us to our shared humanity.
Art transcends boundaries, offering a way to communicate feelings that connect us all.
Your art is really different. How would you define your style and what things have inspired your paintings?
My work radiates with luminous colors, pulsating with energy and intuition. Each canvas invites you to lose yourself in a world where joy reigns supreme, where colors sing and evoke the true emotions of childhood. It is in the fleeting moments of life—when sunlight kisses the water or when the gentle murmur of a stream serenades our senses—that my art finds its deepest inspiration.
My work is not a true representation of reality, but rather a moving expression of emotion—the pure inner feeling you experience when connected with nature, your inner space, and your essence.
In my abstract universe, you may glimpse flames dancing, flowers blooming, and algae swirling in a joyous dance upon the canvas, each stroke a celebration of light, color, and life. It is not just about touches of color but about expressing the joy and emotion you can feel when you look at my paintings.
On a technical level, I embrace a unique approach, pouring fluid acrylic paint onto a horizontal canvas, allowing it to flow freely. I eschew brushes and realistic models, letting the paint reveal its secrets as it floods and mixes. Guided by pieces of cardboard and animated by the touch of my fingers or the swing of wooden sticks, each artwork becomes a living testament to spontaneity and joyful expression without any brushes. The silhouettes are intentionally indistinct, inviting your imagination to work freely.
My art is the true expression of my inner feelings and emotions, evolving and shifting with the light of each day and moment of life.
What makes a work of art value or depreciate?
The emotions and echoes that a painting creates within the soul of its viewers are what give art its value. For me, Art is deeply subjective and personal. A painting may resonate with you or not, and there is no specific reason for that. It exists independently of technique, artistic rules, or academic learning. What truly matters is its ability to touch your inner soul and create a positive feeling, and that has no price.
Art is a rising market, but what makes an artist to become a desired painter?
I believe it comes down to creating opportunities to showcase your art to sensitive individuals who want to bring it into their homes. That’s why I love to place my paintings in beautiful public environments and observe whether they connect with people.
Additionally, I am motivated by the impact my art can have on viewers. Knowing that my paintings can uplift someone’s mood or provide a moment of reflection inspires me to continue creating. I want my art to serve as a source of positivity and inspiration, transforming spaces and enriching lives.
Ultimately, my drive stems from a combination of personal expression, the joy of creativity, and the meaningful connections I hope to foster with those who experience my work.
Since 2021, I have actively exhibited my paintings across various venues, including restaurants, businesses, hotels, coworking spaces, and medical centers. My dedication to showcasing my art has grown, and from 2022 onward, I have had the opportunity to exhibit in approximately ten different locations each month.
To date, I have created around 300 paintings, many of which are permanently displayed in solo exhibitions throughout Brussels and Walloon Brabant, as well as featured in numerous artist tours.
Additionally, I am highly engaged on social media, connecting with over 26,000 followers on LinkedIn and 4,900 on Facebook, while also sharing my work on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads.
And how do you see your future as an artist?
As I continue to evolve as an artist, my goal is to expand my visibility to galleries, collectors, and art lovers, inviting them to experience the vibrant emotions captured in my paintings, sharing the joy and inspiration that Art has brought to my life.