Alice Van de Walle is a French visual artist based in Nice. Her work is rooted in moments of silence and reflection. Her immersive artworks invite viewers to reconnect with their inner emotions. Inspired by nature, the sea, and everyday life, she also develops personal projects that explore connection, energy, and positivity. In our conversation we explore her transition into a new phase more calm and aligned.

Repose: How would you describe what you do?

Alice: What I do is close to visual arts, through painting and drawing. My approach is about bringing a bit of joy, color, and lightness. When people see my work, I want them to feel something positive, a sense of well-being.

Repose: Is it only painting, or do you explore other materials?

Alice: It’s mainly painting. I started with drawing and more classical works, but in recent years I’ve done a lot of murals on large walls, in hotels and private spaces. I don’t limit myself, I also explore other things, but I don’t show everything yet. I love ceramics and I’d like to explore more three-dimensional work, but for now it’s still very personal.

Repose: What led you to start your personal project?

Alice: Since I was a child, I always wanted to do this. But I followed a more academic path. I studied law, then did a master’s in Paris. After that I worked in communication at the Michelin Guide, in gastronomy, which I loved.

Repose: And then you decided to change?

Alice: Yes. I had what you could call a dream job. Everything was perfect, but I didn’t feel good. So I realized I had to listen to myself. I left everything in 2019 and started my artistic path.

Repose: What challenges did you face when starting or trying to make a living from your creativity?

Alice: It was special because it was during the lockdown. But I was lucky, my old colleagues supported me and became my first clients. I started doing illustrations for them, and my path grew through small projects that came naturally.

Repose: How did the idea for this project come about?

Alice:  I had ideas, like creating painting and meditation workshops, because for me painting is very introspective. But in the end, things happened differently. Today, I always invite people to take time to feel something when they look at my work. There is a strong emotional connection in my practice.

Repose: Do you still connect painting and meditation?

Alice: Yes, completely. For me meditation is about being present. Recently my work has become more intuitive, more abstract. I sit in front of the canvas, I calm down, and I let things come. It feels like a new step in my practice, less intellectual, more guided by the body and the heart.

Repose: How did you experience this shift?

Alice: I think it’s strongly connected to becoming a mother. Something changes physically and emotionally. It took time, but now it feels more fluid and clear, like something opened.

Repose: How is your relationship with your work now? Do you judge yourself less?

Alice: Yes, I let things happen more. Before I was impatient, I wanted to reach the final result quickly. Now I’m calmer. If something doesn’t work, I just try again. I think motherhood helped me a lot with that.

Repose: Do you remember the first time you painted?

Alice: Not really, because it has always been there. My mother kept a painting I made when I was ten months old. It’s just fingerprints, but it means a lot to me. I even made business cards as a child, calling myself a painter.

Repose: And at some point you moved away from that?

Alice: Something inside me was turned off by the system and the fear of failure. I was a good student, so I followed the expected path. Later I realized that even if I could succeed in that path, it wasn’t right for me.

Repose: And leaving that comfort was not too difficult?

Alice: In a way I was lucky, because I didn’t feel good. It pushed me to leave. Sometimes discomfort is necessary to make a change. I think life guides you. Every experience, even negative ones, helps you become more aligned with yourself. You just have to listen.

Repose: Was it difficult to start living from your art?

Alice: Honestly, it felt very fluid. Things aligned. Of course there are ups and downs, but I take them as part of the process. It also helps me work on my fears.

Repose: Do you mostly work on commissions?

Alice: Yes, mostly. I like creating in relation to a place or a person. I need context. That’s why I love murals. I also started a project called “Your Very Own Lucky Charm,” where I create small paintings for people based on their personal stories and what they need emotionally.

Repose: How do you balance your personal life and your creative life?

Alice: Since I have a baby, it’s very different. But I don’t like separating personal and professional life. Everything is my life. My daughter is part of it. We bring her with us to projects. If I can’t, I don’t take the project. It may sound radical, but it keeps me aligned.

I have less time, but I’m more efficient. And I also learn from her. She influences my work, sometimes even directly when she paints with me. I try to listen to her rhythm. It teaches me a lot.

Repose: Has your project evolved since you started?

Alice: Yes, all the time. It’s never linear. I feel like I’m entering a new phase now, more calm and aligned. It’s like starting a new chapter.

Repose: Do you feel confident calling yourself an artist? How do you deal with that?

Alice: It’s something you feel inside. It doesn’t mean there are no doubts. Of course I still have things I want to achieve. But I can live from my art, I’m free, and that’s already enough.

It’s really something you feel in your heart. You just know it’s there. It doesn’t mean there are no moments of doubt. Sometimes I wish I was further in my career. There are many things I would like to do that I haven’t done. But I try to let go of that and accept that this is my path. I am where I’m supposed to be right now. Maybe it will happen, maybe it won’t.

Repose: So today, you are fully working as an artist?

Alice: Yes, and that already means a lot. I can live from my art, I can be with the people I love when I want, I’m free to do what I want. That’s enough for me. I think when you really listen to what you are meant to do, it’s not even about confidence anymore. It’s something deeper, like there is no other choice.

I think we all have something like a mission. You just have to try to listen. There are many layers to remove, but when you connect to something very honest inside yourself, things align. It’s not easy, but it becomes more fluid. And it doesn’t mean you will do the same thing your whole life. I don’t know if I will paint forever. For now, it’s what moves me.

Repose: Is being close to nature important for your practice?

Alice: Yes. That’s why living by the sea is so important for me. Even just five minutes on the beach helps to clear your mind and let things flow, and today silence feels like a luxury.

Repose: Is there anything that excites you about the future of your work?

Alice: Not really. I try to stay aligned with what I feel I need to do. Maybe I would like to explore other mediums like ceramics, but there are practical limits for now. I’m open to where life takes me.

Repose: Are there moments when doubt comes back?

Alice: Yes, especially during quieter periods, when there are fewer projects or financial uncertainty. But those moments are important. They help you step back and confirm that you are on the right path.

Repose: What would you tell the person you were when you started this project?

Alice: To ask fewer questions and listen more. To trust less the mind and more the heart. It’s not easy, it’s something you work on every day, but that’s the path.

Repose Archive is a creative direction journal documenting processes and projects across art, design, architecture, and hospitality. As designers, we interview creative minds and explore their creations.  Photography credits:  Alice Van de Walle.