Morgane Antoine was born in France and had the chance to travel the world from an early age opening up to many other cultures and natural wonders. Her thirst for discovery took her across Europe and North America while studying engineering. Health issues forced her to reconsider her career and led her to embrace her creative path.
As a self-taught wildlife artist, Morgane started by studying the works of hyperrealism masters such as Robert Bateman or Carl Brenders. She has perfected her own technique with acrylic to capture her subjects with amazing details and depth. She always combines her skills with a naturalist approach. Morgane cherishes her deep connection with nature and feels the need to share its beauty in every brushstroke.
Morgane’s art has won several international prizes, including places in the finals of the BBC and David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year competitions in the UK and two-time winner of the Golden Turtle Wildlife Festival in Russia. She has also received numerous awards in all the major miniature shows in the USA and Canada. She was published in 2010 in the book L’Art Animalier : la relève des artistes contemporains (Animal Art: contemporary artists taking over in France. Furthermore, she was chosen as Artist of the Month in 2013 by The Artist’s Magazine in the USA.
Morgane’s paintings can be found in private collections and she offers custom portraits and commissions. When time allows, she loves to share her techniques through workshops or demonstrations. She also supports ongoing wildlife conservation efforts by helping to raise funds and to educate people with her work.
Statement
My work is a perpetual quest to capture the fleeting moment of truth and awe that can be felt when encountering a wild animal. In my acrylic paintings, I immerse the viewer in a world of lifelike details and hyperrealistic textures. I want them to feel the touch of nature in every tiny brushstroke, to lose themselves in the depth of myriad layers and to be on the lookout for creatures escaping from the canvas.
My approach is both technical and naturalist with an intensive work of observation, research and reference gathering. It gives me the intimate knowledge necessary to faithfully portray my subjects in their environment. Some paintings take up to several months to complete. Wildlife art is all about passion but also patience, a stark contrast to our society frantic pace.
In the current trend of unrestrained plundering of our planet resources, I find myself yearning to reconnect with my wild roots. I long to share the majestic yet fragile beauty of nature through my work. Beyond the artistic appeal, I want this journey through animal kingdom to awaken a sense of responsibility in wildlife conservation.