La Vie est Belle!
March 26, 2025
Interview with French artist Jim Drouet
Born in 1961, Jim Drouet has been influenced by art his entire life. After leaving a thriving career in advertising and publishing, he dedicated himself entirely to painting. Jim’s rich background in editorial design and photography has heavily influenced his painting style.
Drouet (JD) reveals his inspirations during an interview with East West Fine Art owner Leeza Arkhangelskaya (LA).
LA: What prompted you to start your career as an artist?
JD: I have always drawn and there came a time in my life when it became necessary to make it the center of my activity. Probably the need to highlight images that I had in mind for a long time. What guided me was also the strong need for independence that I felt at the time. Everything happened naturally.
LA: What is the goal or objective of your work?
JD: My only goal is to bring a little beauty into this world, in all humility. I think that it is more than ever the function of pictorial art in our society, which is stifled by injunctions of all kinds all day long. Then it is the act of painting that interests me, not that of having painted. There is no message. My oil painting process focuses on the act of painting with all the surprises and discoveries that it provides.
Because representing reality is not my goal, I rather focus on not freezing the forms in a strict figurative narration so that everyone can appropriate a reality that is their own. I like the pictorial quality of old silver photos, and I try to find in painting these imperfections and traces of time that give so much charm to these images.
In fact, my oils only speak of calm and light, I do not seek to demonstrate anything, it is above all painting! Everyone will see what they want to see because it is not reality that counts, but what the imagination can do with it.
LA: What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of being an artist?
JD: The fundamental notion is the total freedom to live as I wish. It is my base, the foundation of my life. Very early on I oriented my life exactly as I wanted to live it. It is my main motivation and something very precious. I always pay close attention to remaining free in my choices (subjects, exhibition locations, calendars) to remain in a positive dynamic. Painting is above all pleasure. So, there is no aspect of my life that I do not like.
LA: What gives your paintings such a French side?
JD: Hahahaha I don’t know. Maybe because I’m French… I’m not the best placed to answer.
Visit us to view Drouet’s paintings at East West Fine Art in Mercato. 9118 Strada Place, 8130. Naples, Florida 34108. www.eastwestfineart.com – info@eastwestfineart.com
