Meet the young and talented Paris-born artist Beya Rebaï, who has a passion for color as she draws narrow and select tone focus pieces. Having studied illustration in Brussels, Belgium for three years, and later attempting her master degree in Paris, Beya’s love for art has only grown stronger as time went on. With an intense drive for creativity, Beya is always seen with a sketchbook and wax pastels in hand during her travels. Not restricting herself with just what she sees with her eyes, Beya draws what she sees in her own unique way by adding an abundance of color.
Take us through a day in the life of Beya Rebaï.
“I recently decided to leave my Masters degree, so now I can take more time doing what I want, especially in the morning. I could say that my day starts around 10am, by going to the gym and then back to work on the computer, responding to all my emails and investing myself in the different projects I am currently working on. These days, I am mostly handling my e-shop, managing the orders that have been placed. So, there is no « typical » day for me, really.”
Tell us about how you first became interested in art, and what initially attracted you to illustration?
“I think it started with my parents, who are big fans of art and made me travel around the world since I was a little girl. My dad has a travel agency. Each place we would go to, we would visit a lot of museums and it developed something in me. I did not see these visits as obligations; on the contrary, I really loved them. I remember my parents placing me in one room of the museum and telling me “pick a painting, try to reproduce it maybe while we go take a look around”. When they would come back, I realized a lot of people had gathered around me, watching me draw. Reproducing paintings and being so sensitive to colors and art in general led the way for me. The specialty of illustration really came in my prep school, after high school, when I met some people who were passionate about it. They made me realize illustration was the closest technique to drawing. And so I left for three years to Belgium to do a bachelor’s degree in illustration.”
Your work is inherently unique yet reminiscent of several celebrated modern artists such as Hermann-Paul, Maurice Denis, L.S Lowry, yet your bright pastel remind us of a colorful Matisse. With that said, who are some historic or contemporary artists that you look up to for inspiration?
“Matisse is definitely an artist that I always look up to and admire for his unique colors. I [also] feel very close to the Nabi movement (approximately 1888 to 1900), which Maurice Deny was part of. But one of the greatest artists for me is Pierre Bonnard. His light and his color touches are very moving. I tend to incorporate a lot of pink tones in my drawings, something that Matisse and Bonnard used to do, too.”
In a few words how would you describe your work?
“I would say colorful, pink, melancholic, with a touch of loneliness. I am actually thinking about the American painter Edward Hopper: in his canvases, there are colors, people, but they really seem alone. I actually did a presentation about him in high school that really impacted my work now that I think about it.”
Can you walk us through your creative process?
“I can just sit down and draw directly something that inspires me. Or I let my imagination wonder around.”
“But most of the time and when I travel, I take a lot of photographs of the places I visit, of images that “speak” to me. For example, right now, in the very café we are conducting this interview, I would like to take a picture of the two men behind us and re-draw them afterward. The process is the following; I try to do a very thin sketch and then I start putting some color layers. That is the moment when I try to only choose four to five colors for my drawing. At the very end, I scan my work and I sometimes photoshop it to brighten up some tones.”
How has your color range developed over the years?
“I must say it developed very quickly. When I joined my bachelor’s in Belgium, I remember my teachers saying that I was using very strong and uncanny colors for my works. They were not very similar to what I use today, softer smoother colors.”
“Now, I am trying to create a balance between pastel colors and dark greens or vermillion, for example. The various exhibitions that I have the chance to see, but also the photograph magazines that I read can inspire me. The harmony that I decide to create can come from many sources.”
What are some of the most rewarding aspects of using a limited pallet?
“I like to re-invent my own drawings, especially in the subjects of my work. Undoubtedly, there are certain colors that I particularly feel drawn to (like pink, green and blue), but if I decide to re-use them, I have to challenge myself in creating new subjects, new matter. For example, I recently did the portrait of a couple walking and also a robot, but all in the same colors. Also what can be challenging is the combination of new colors. For instance, I absolutely love yellow, but I have not found a way yet to associate it to another color in my creations.”
“And I would say the rewarding aspect of using a limited pallet is that an artist feels more reassured, but also quite simply, enjoys working.”
Is there one drawing that you are particularly close to or proud of?
“I am not especially proud of my drawings. If I were proud, I would probably just stop working! I am at a point where I am experimenting a lot of things, but if I were truly satisfied [with] everything that I did I would not search to diversify myself. But I really admire artists who can keep up their search, and follow the same subject for a long time. I think one my favorite pieces of work is the one from “I mountain” I did a while ago.”
Where to next?
“I have several projects that I would like [to] accomplish this year. But I am currently working on a book, and I have an exhibition coming up in London in October, [at] the Blue Shop Cottage (Brixton). Also, I would like to test a lot of new things like ceramics and textiles. My goal would be to get out of my comfort zone and work with various creators for collaborations; like perfumes, or cars maybe…”
Where can we follow you?
“On instagram: beya.illustration“
“And on my website: www.beyarebai.com“
