Luxembourg artist Pascale Simon finds healing and peace through intuitive abstract art

In the second in our series on Meet the Artist, we talk to Pascale Simon, who started drawing, painting and sculpture to help find inner peace and deal with difficult and painful moments from her childhood.

She is intuitive when she creates what she calls abstract/meditation art, often starting with just a line or point but then using acrylics, water colours, fine liners and coloured pencils.

Since childhood, Simon was driven to draw or create something  © Photo credit: Pascale Simon

She is intuitive when she creates what she calls abstract/meditation art, often starting with just a line or point but then using acrylics, water colours, fine liners and coloured pencils.

Self-taught, she started by creating art during her leisure time, but in retirement she has been able to focus more on her creativity, with her first exhibition in 2024, and her next one at Pop-Up Art Kehlen, from 12-21 September.

What inspires you to create art and where do you find your ideas?

Since my childhood, aged six, I was driven to draw or create something. During my life, drawing, painting, making stone sculptures or playing with clay helped me stay grounded, find my inner peace and express my emotions. It helped me always through the most difficult and painful moments of my life.

I was driven by my inner self to go with the flow and find my unique style, and it is still an ongoing process.

I want to create harmony and peace, and give a sense of well-being and joy. That’s why I always try to round the edges of my drawings and sculptures.

All my artworks are hand drawn and made with love. I have to feel the material then let it go intuitively, not thinking about what comes out, going with the flow. Even the choice of my colours is made intuitively.

Nowadays I practice intuitive abstract art/meditation art. I don’t think about what I am creating. It starts with a point or line, then the fine liner flows over the paper. It’s all about the journey, experimenting, trying new approaches, and the end result isn’t so important.

What is your favourite medium to work with? 

I have no favourite medium; all media are interesting. I love to combine different ones, for example starting with water colours, then changing to fine liners, and finishing in coloured pencils.

Simon combines water colours, fine liners and coloured pencils in her artworks © Photo credit: Pascale Simon

I have no favourite medium; all media are interesting. I love to combine different ones, for example starting with water colours, then changing to fine liners, and finishing in coloured pencils.

I was always fascinated by abstract art, and I started reading everything I could find about it. I am a self-taught artist – I bought a bunch of books to learn different techniques, but I never took classes. I never wanted to copy someone else’s ideas.

I also never created something with the intention to sell it. It was all about the joy and fun to simply create something. For 30 years I made acrylic abstract paintings on canvas, experimenting with different mediums. In 2019, I changed to paper, fine liners, water colours and coloured pencils.

Where are you from and how does this influence your art? 

I was born in Luxembourg and have lived here my entire life, but I have travelled to a lot of different countries and places, both near and far away. Travelling is my second passion.

It isn’t important to me where I am when I want to draw. I can draw everywhere, even on hotel beds.

I’m inspired by music, observing nature, my surroundings and the people I encounter. I transfer these emotions to art.

How does your artwork reflect your personal experiences? 

They reflect my emotions and feelings. Even in the most difficult moments of my life, I never lost my joy for life and I think this is reflected in my drawings and paintings. At least that is what I try to express.

Life is very colourful, even if we don’t see it every time. When you look at the sky, there isn’t only one blue colour, but a whole different bunch of shades of blue.

What does art mean to you and why do you make it? 

Art was and still is a huge part of my life. It enriches my life. Not only painting or drawing, but creating something with my hands – so even cooking, renovating or crocheting is satisfying.

“Without art, society would be very dark,” said Simon in an interview with the Luxembourg Times © Photo credit: Pascale Simon

Art was and still is a huge part of my life. It enriches my life. Not only painting or drawing, but creating something with my hands – so even cooking, renovating or crocheting is satisfying.

In my younger years, I was not allowed to study art at school, so during my professional career, art was my leisure activity. Since I retired it is my main activity.

But it was omnipresent in my life because it is my form of meditation. It helped me heal my childhood traumas, and it gave me back my mental health. I am a survivor of many forms of child abuse.

How do you think art impacts society and culture?

Without art, society would be very dark. In my opinion it is important to explore one’s creativity and express feelings, and art is a good way of doing it. You can express emotions without having to speak them loudly. Art is very important to well-being and mental health. It enriches life – so colour your life!

Where have you exhibited? 

I never exhibited my art when it was a leisure activity. In 2024, my friend Josiane Kremer invited me to exhibit with her husband, Edgar Kohn, at their place.

It was an honour, and so my new journey started. In June, I exhibited at L’Art Rochette, with school friend Paul Rodenbourg and 12 other lovely artists earlier this year.

My exhibition will once again be with Edgar Kohn and this time Nicole Bemtgen at the Pop-up Art Gallery in Kehlen. The vernissage is 12 September and the gallery is open on 13-14 and 20-21 September.

You can find out more about Pascale Simon’s art on her Instagram page.