Nostalgic Paris in watercolors Terry Duval

Thierry Duval draws and draws since childhood. He created his first work in 1980 in the form of a narrative, in a comic book, and later worked as an illustrator, and then as part of a creative group in a large advertising agency in Paris. It was at a time when he was preparing for the entrance exam to the Paris school "Art Decorations", he discovered the work of Delacroix, and then became interested in watercolors. He graduated in 1982.

Thierry Duval's Parisian watercolors are inspired by photographs that he takes in advance. He loves to photograph the banks of the Seine in the early morning, the light penetrating under bridges, the roofs shining in the rain, the majestic silhouettes of city monuments that suddenly appear when you turn a corner into a narrow street, river barges, markets, cafes ... The result is a series surprisingly realistic paintings; a poetic, fabulous vision of nostalgic and eternal Paris.

His second main source of inspiration is the East. From the diaries of his travels in Morocco, he draws a lot of objects: Berber men and their way of life, travel magic, as well as harsh landscapes flooded with hot light.
His work exudes unusual strength in colors and light; The drawing is very accurate. This gives his paintings realism, unusual among the usual language of watercolor. Thierry Duvall's work is a skilful blend of hyperrealism, poetic charm, and sophistication.

The uniqueness of his work lies in the dichotomy between great technical skill, a modernist feeling thanks to digital technology and its various applications, and, conversely, the picturesque rendering, which seems to be more permeated by the influence of classical watercolorists of the last century.

I hope that I am a sensitive, accurate observer of nature and the city, striving to make the slightest changes in the world. My watercolors of urban scenes depict the historical beauty of Paris or Venice, as well as their bizarre, mysterious side.
Thierry Duval takes part in international exhibitions at prestigious galleries such as Gallery Suiha in Tokyo, Japan, and takes part in major art events such as the 2nd Shanghai International Watercolor Biennale in China.
He was a member of the Fondation Taylor from January 2009, and from 2012 to 2013 was a member of Société Française de l'Aquarelle.