Lysa Karell

Charmed by the soul, Lysa Karell tirelessly seeks to uncover the authenticity of the gaze she shapes, creating portraits with unchanging, almost immortal figures. Dare we say it, art allows us to suspend time.

She owes this to her inspiration from Oscar Wilde's (The Picture of Dorian Gray) novel, which is for her an undisputed masterpiece, giving a spark of life to a painted or drawn vision is a mission to achieve. Basil Hallward, a model of excellence in the face of the task, refines the realism and textures of the subjects she chooses. Aiming to reproduce a living and remarkably real reality in this uniqueness that we all possess, our spirit.

With a pagan heart and a gypsy spirit, nature and the movement of life play a divinely important role in her creative processes. Many of Lysa Karell's works connect mythology, legends, and the deities of peoples around the world. She places deities at the forefront, often in an atmosphere of climate change, connecting with natural forces. Her works, sometimes distressing and dark, with their rigid and strident lines, are sometimes luminous and serene, carrying an imprint that exudes a profound gentleness.

Hoping to return to the essentials, environmental causes are of extreme importance to this nature-loving artist. An animal rights activist, she fights for the ideology of a respectful earth.

It is with these in mind that she has established herself as a portraitist but also as an animal artist. Her portraits closely resemble the true fur of animals, and she nuances the pigments with delicacy and finesse.

Captivated by the great masters of painting and drawing, a fascination emerged very early on with the history of art. Among her most captivating influences, she lets herself be bewitched by the symbolic mysticism of the works of Gustave Moreau, intoxicated by the extravagance of El Greco, enchanted by the meticulous details of Leonardo Da Vinci and charmed by the ambitious fluidity of Albrecht Dürer as well as the perfectionism of Sandro Botticelli, the one she cherished a little more than the others... But let's not forget Alexandre Cabanel with its most wonderfully accomplished color palette. The latter two, offering their versions of The Birth of Venus, captivate in elegance, showing that a subject can offer different and equally impressive beauties through opposing periods and artistic movements. So many imposing figures who have crossed the generations from the period of the Italian Renaissance, to those of a more modern era. His great love is undoubtedly offered to the Rinascimento (The Italian Renaissance) in the heart of Firenze the city state where art is Master even today, a waking dream for all those embraced by creative beauty.  With boundless admiration for the Pre-Raphaelite movement, Lysa Karell admires certain artists from different periods, starting with the unwavering will of Evelyn De Morgan without forgetting the pigmentary audacity linked to the surrealism of Marc Chagall.  

Let's talk about black and white. It's true that sketch styles quickly won over Lysa Karell. From her first steps in art, Walt Disney's illustrations were, for her, overflowing with vitality through their movements as much as their finely constructed, refined lines. During her childhood, she illustrated several characters from the famous studio that she loved. Black and white doesn't stop there, the designer Charles Addams represents these same nuances with The Addams Family but with a macabre humor, a rigid structure and a very aristocratic atmosphere. She adores Belle & Morticia as well as their roses. This is how Lysa Karell still leaves a large place for illustration, now paying homage to these favorite creators through reproductions of her artists who inspire her journey.

During his courses on the history of indigenous art, Kent Monkman particularly caught his attention, this artist deals with the power relationship between the white and indigenous communities through themes inspired by the stories described in 19th century art, a painter to discover for sure.

Here are models to draw inspiration from Lysa Karell, eager to let herself be guided by her own creative magic while prioritizing her development towards classical academic foundations.

She developed her knowledge of Art History by training with the Sorbonne University in Paris as well as with UQUAM, University of Quebec in Montreal. She then perfected her career at La RMN-Grand Palais and Le Center Pompidou with specialized training programs.

Since mythology but also magic from the four corners of the world appeals to her, she documents with great interest the uses, rites, customs and various beliefs of peoples, Nordics, Africans, Indigenous Mexicans & Indians.

An artist with multiple ambitions, she created her boutique Atropa Parcae. Thanks to this platform, she wishes to offer the possibility of obtaining series of prints from certain collections of her illustrated works. Producing a wide range of themes, it places priority on: cinema, animals, insects, sea people, architecture, witchcraft, horror, animals and popular vintage icons.  Atropa Parcae is a second wind, following the economic crisis linked to the tragedy of the pandemic which transformed many destinies. Lysa Karell wants to get closer to the planet's citizens by creating sales content available to everyone.

The traveler's awakening was revealing for a young artist in search of new experiences, one who so enjoys reading The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

North America; the United States and Western Canada are so many different landscapes and cultures that provide daydreams to those who know how to look. Certainly, Lysa Karell was transformed by these bohemian journeys carried away by the rhythms of Lana Del Rey, Elvis Presley, Pink Floyd & Bob Dylan. Sleeping under the stars on the seaside or on top of wild mountains, from crossing Canada by car to taking portraits on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. 

In these luminous slices of life we ​​find a colorist with dazzling nuances, no doubt from there, she knew how to capture the colors of existence.

Life near water is an important element that characterizes her in many of her works. The family summer house being located on the edge of a lake, she meditated on many creations there and identified her characters with literature, mythology, botany and psychology, a subject with which she herself is enamored.

Looking back on the existence of an artist, it is pleasant to see that destiny colludes in conception.

When I adopted my Shetland Shepherd Daividh Gilmour, he became my protector and my inspiration. Before, I only drew humanoid portraits, so inspired by this sublime creature with wall eyes that I started to offer animal portraits. My Scottish Baby is the basis for all of these creations and so many new and wonderful encounters with people who are passionate and dedicated to animals.

Following this, I am really proud of how my business has taken off. Thanks to your orders on my Atropa Parcae store, together we have contributed to virtually adopting species in difficulty by offering regular donations to the WWF-Canada Foundation. I am so happy to participate in a better future for animals and our beautiful planet. This with you my dear friends! The Atropa Parcae Family grows every year. 

Thank you very much!