Victoria Thelamon
About Me
I am a French/American illustrator who lives in France. I lived in Montreal for 8 years to do a bachelors degree in ecology, evolution and environment at the university of Montreal, where I also got some basic knowledge of animal physiology and molecular/cellular biology. I then studied animal behavior as part of a master's degree on the effects of a parasite on the personality and cognitive abilities of a north american freshwater fish (the pumpkinseed sunfish).
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One of the most significant event in my life was an internship I did in Newfoundland with the Quebec Labrador Foundation. This experience has fostered my desire to share my knowledge in science through an educational or popularization project.
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I have been drawing and painting since a young age but my interest for wildlife art has flourished during my bachelor's degree. I started an illustration program in Collège Salette in September of 2021 in order to combine both my passion for biology and art.
Artistic approach
My fascination for the animal kingdom drove me to often depict elements of nature in my illustrations, be it with animals or plants. I like to showcase rare species of animals or species that fascinate me, either by their looks, their ecology or their behavior. I have been passionate about ornithology since I was 9 years old, so birds are very often my choice for a painting. I like to include abstract or black and white elements to create a contrast with the realistic animals. I give particular attention to the eyes, which I think are what give life to a painting.
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What I love about scientific illustration is that it has a precise goal and changes depending on the targeted people. It can be part of an article published in a scientific journal, part of an educational or popularization project or to raise awareness towards an ecological cause.
My illustrations are mainly created using acrylic paints or digital mediums.