CarolineManière
Painter · The Medicine Women · Fontainebleau ForestWomen, men and animals who arrive with a message. Painted on metal foil so the light can find them.
The art of Caroline Manière really touches my soul, from the colour combinations to the symbolism. I am completely in love with all her work, and I feel extra fortunate to have had the chance to talk with her about her inspirations.
Caroline is a French painter from Dijon, where she studied science at the university before dropping it for a graphic design school in Paris. After twelve years as an art director at a large advertising firm, she returned to her first love, fine art: she studied trompe-l'oeil and began painting on wood and canvas.
I can't remember exactly how or where I first found her paintings, but I love their peaceful, spiritual quality, and the references to inner reflection and shamanism, which I find magnetic.
Who comes for you?
“These women, men and animals come to me, to us. They transmit their message, their wisdom, their knowledge, their power. They remind us of our connection with something bigger than us: Mother Earth.”
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The interview
Interview by Leila AntaklyCaroline, you have a very distinct visual identity. How long did it take you to get there?
My first painting was of a woman. I wanted to tell the story of her inner journey. So I began painting women, each one coming back from a voyage with a key; I called them the Explorers Collection, the different faces of the universal woman. Then, following my own spiritual path, the work evolved into the Medicine Women series, because my audience told me they sensed healing properties and vibrations in the works, sometimes even a message. The rest developed from there.
A door opened when I began therapeutic work: family constellations, psycho-corporal therapy, EMDR, working on intuition, breathwork, dream interpretation, anything to do with personal development. I began reconnecting to my true essence, and to a sense of my purpose and mission.
“The best work you can ever do is the work you do on yourself.”
When I knew more deeply who I was, I could paint instinctively. I just followed my intuition and let the colours and patterns come to me. I paint on copper foil because I love how the light illuminates my subjects, in the most respectful and sacred way.
Sometimes I start with an idea, but something happens and everything changes. When I paint, I usually listen to shamanic drumming, icaros, Native American music, mantras… I also listen to my heart and let myself be guided.
“I let the colours and patterns come to me.”
- Shamanic drumming
- Icaros
- Native American music
- Mantras
What are your greatest inspirations or influences?
I live in the Fontainebleau Forest
Favourite artists, books and sources?
Artists BooksHas there been a favourite response to your work?
Not one in particular, but I get so much wonderful feedback, and it's so touching to hear that my work is benefiting people in different ways, whether transformational or bringing a sense of peace and good vibrations. I am so grateful to the universe for giving me this tool to receive all this love and good energy.
How do you work?
I really connect on energy. If you are interested in my work, I can create a medicine woman, man or animal, something you connect with, but my intuition is what guides me. The one who comes for you is your sort of avatar, and the work I create carries a special frequency for you, even a message. If you connect with it, you can receive a message, a sense of understanding, energy; the possibilities are endless. It is my love and honour to be the channel, the “medium”, for you.
You usually send me an email and ask for a woman, man, animal or totem. You can tell me something about yourself if you want, but I don't ask anything: I prefer to listen to my intuition.
Thank the Universe! And thank you, Leila!
The Medicine Woman Oracle
Caroline's Medicine Women became an oracle deck. Co-created with the author Catherine Maillard and illustrated by Caroline, The Medicine Woman Oracle invites readers to discover the archetypes of the divine feminine, drawing on shamanic teachings, the traditions of first peoples and ritual arts.
The English edition was published by Rockpool Publishing in November 2022.
The Oracle ↗You might love
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