The path of creation

Some collections are developed from a blank sheet. Others are born around a bend in the road.

Last November, Brigitte and François traveled to Haute-Provence to reunite with painter Isabelle Merlet, with whom they were preparing the collection The Great Roads. Together, they explored the hills surrounding Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, admired the reliefs sculpted by time, and observed the distinctive light that seems to caress the landscapes of the Verdon before heading to the artist’s studio, which overlooks one of the most beautiful panoramas in Provence.

( Brigitte and François on the Valensole plateau )

After a morning of photography with their faithful collaborator Jean-Luc Petit, Isabelle slipped away to prepare lunch. The ARTIST trio remained alone, facing the mountains.

( the village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie in Haute-Provence )

Silence settled in.

The trees had donned their autumn colors. Deep reds answered the luminous golds, the pines retained their intense green while the olive trees spread their silvery reflections. Light slipped gently from one treetop to the next. No one spoke anymore.

Then, almost instinctively, the camera began working again. A solitary tree. A forest edge. A shaft of light. A few suspended leaves. Without yet realizing it, they were no longer photographing merely a landscape: they were embracing an emotion, gathering inspiration.

Back in Burgundy, these images became the raw material for creation. Assembled, reworked, and reinterpreted, they gave rise to a new landscape. Neither quite photography nor quite painting. A work born from a suspended moment.

Thus was born “On the Road to Moustiers.” The magic of nature inspired an entire collection heralding autumn 2026. It reveals the beauty of the trees, the light of the South, and the blissful grace of a creative day.

Trees, Our Oldest Companions

Trees have accompanied us throughout history.

They shape our landscapes, protect the soil, shelter birds, filter the air we breathe, and provide coolness and shade when the heat sets in. Their ecological role is immense.

But their presence also touches something deeply human.

How many memories are tied to a tree? The one we played under as children, the one lining the route to school, the one whose first flowers we awaited in spring or whose flamboyant autumn colors we looked forward to.

( Gustav Klimt: Beech Forest )

Even today, numerous studies show that being close to trees soothes us, reduces stress, promotes concentration, and improves our well-being. As if their mere presence invited us to slow down.

They teach us without ever speaking. They grow patiently, face the seasons, endure the decades, and remind us that the most beautiful things take time.

When Artists Look Up

Painters have never stopped looking at trees.

They found symbols, emotions, and living structures in them.

For Gustav Klimt, the tree becomes a symbol of life, transmission, and the invisible bonds that unite all living beings. Claude Monet celebrates poplars and their infinite variations of light. Vincent van Gogh makes olive trees dance in the Provençal wind. Piet Mondrian transforms the tree into an almost abstract graphic construction. Suzanne Valadon, Baya, and Hiroshige each see it as an inexhaustible source of poetry.

( Claude Monet: Poplars )

Each artist reveals a different facet of this silent companion.

At ARTIST, this fascination goes back a long way.

In 2023, the “Autumn Legend” collection, created with painter Olivier Morel, already celebrated the colors of forests and the magic of this season.

“On the Road to Moustiers” places the tree naturally and symbolically at the very heart of inspiration.

Creating without forgetting what surrounds us

When nature inspires us so deeply, it seems only natural to want to care for it in our own way.

For several years, ARTIST has pursued a sincere approach to reducing its environmental footprint. The packaging is made from recycled cardboard, printed with water-based inks, without plastic or adhesive tape. Each box, illustrated in the theme’s colors, is designed to be kept, reused, and sometimes even collected.

The brand also favors partners committed to sustainable forest-resource management, notably through FSC and PEFC certifications.

This commitment is not the result of a trend. It reflects a deeply rooted belief held by François, who is closely attached to the Morvan forests, where his family roots lie. The great deciduous forests that shaped his childhood still inspire his perspective today and strengthen his desire to preserve these landscapes, which are part of our living heritage.

( the Morvan forests )

Trees tell us stories…

Perhaps they know things we have sometimes forgotten.

They know what might resemble eternity. They know how to wait for the light, welcome the wind, and lose their leaves without ever losing hope for spring.

They offer us their shade without asking for anything in return. They shelter life, watch over landscapes, and connect earth to sky with quiet elegance.

Their foliage whispers stories to those who take the time to listen.

Those of the seasons as they pass.

Paths we choose to take.

Encounters that change a life.

Creations that are born almost by chance.

On July 12, ARTIST will unveil a new creation.

A few days later, a collection will extend this emotion.

A tribute to generous nature, remarkable trees… And to all the stories they tirelessly continue to tell us.