Leloluce: from Chartered Accountant to International Pop Artist

Discover the portrait of a passionate young woman who exudes joie de vivre and happiness!

Leloluce, turning a passion into a profession

We begin this series of portraits with the incredible and atypical artist Leloluce!  Change your life by changing to make a living from your passion, it’s possible! Leloluce gives us his advice and shares his story with us.

Who is Leloluce? Unidentified HPI is uan artist with a big heart, as sensitive as she is smiling! His job? Pop and street art painter and sculptor. Based in Savoie, she decided to leave her job as a chartered accountant to make a living from her work. passion.

And if you were wondering how to be happy at work, she has the answer!

Hello Leloluce, thank you for welcoming Mel and me to your warm and welcoming workshop ! Before we talk about you, let’s talk about us!

Did you know Suivez le Zèbre?

I didn’t know about the blog, but a friend in Annecy told me about Mel’s book. I’ve often heard of the concept of zebra or HPI, because many of my friends or people I meet say to me: “You’re definitely a zebra! You have all the characteristics!  When Mel came to see me at the Festival de l’Ours in Aix-les-Bains and introduced herself, I immediately made the connection with the book, and it was obvious that we had a lot in common and a lot to share.

I don’t know if I’m a zebra. I’ve never taken a test or seen a shrink, I still haven’t read Mel’s book (because she forgets it every time we see each other!) but the subject intrigues me! 

Why do your friends and family think you’re HPI?

Because I can’t stand still. I have 10,000 ideas a minute. My brain never stops. I think I’m tiring them out! (Laughs). I loved my old job as a chartered accountant, but I got bored pretty quickly. I always had to come up with new assignments, work on continuous improvement and exchange ideas with my colleagues and customers. Always the desire to do more and go further. I remember that at the start of my career, I was managing dozens of companies and my customers were always surprised by my young age when they saw me physically!

I’m a hard worker. I also love people. I’m altruistic, generous, kind and a bit of a Care Bear. I’m a bit offbeat in my approach to the world and to people. My workshop is an organized mess. A blend of creativity and rigor. In fact, all this can be found in my paintings and sculptures.

Let’s talk about your artwork. Today, you’re no longer a chartered accountant but an internationally acclaimed artist. Can you tell us about your career path, which on paper seems rather atypical!

Was painting a kind of escape for you, a way of expressing yourself?

Well, both! I’ve always loved painting because it allows me to turn my brain off. When I use my hands, when I sculpt or paint, I feel good because I stop thinking, analyzing everything, going off in all directions. I’m focused on what I’m doing and I’m really enjoying it. I no longer need channel my head or tell my brain: “Stop, please shut up“! Which was really tiring!

Have you had a passion for art since childhood?

I painted my first canvas when I was 5.

But even in kindergarten, my favorite activity was drawing. For my birthdays, I asked for easels, canvases, felt-tips and brushes. I even still have a book from that period: Comment peindre à l’acrylique (How to paint with acrylics).

I’m 100% self-taught, although I did take a year of classes in high school. I didn’t want to continue with the course because I didn’t enjoy reproducing the works other painters. What I wanted was to create and be free to make art that suited me. And then, I like to do and decide for myself! Nevertheless, I don’t regret having studied with a teacher for a year, as it helped me master the basics and made it even easier to concentrate on creativity.

You have a very recognizable universe, colorful, peppy, fun, sparkling, with strong street art influences! Then there’s Lelocat, which is more sober, stylish and elegant, but always with that touch of madness that characterizes you.

How did you build your artistic universe?

Strangely enough, I didn’t necessarily look at what was being done in theart world – I didn’t know anything about it! For example, I never went to museums. I’m 100% self-taught. I paint intuitively, based on what I feel. My emotions and desires are my common threads. For a long time, I thought that what I painted was something anyone could do. I didn’t think I “had a thing”. Then, as others kept telling me that they loved my art and that it wasn’t for everyone, I came to realize my potential. 

I love bringing happiness to people. It’s what I do naturally and it’s my way of being.  I exude happiness and joie de vivre. I’m an eternal optimist. I don’t like sad or gloomy things… It was obvious to me that my works should be colorful. I’ve always been like that! I have a childhood friend who told me a few years ago: “The drawings you’re doing today, you were already doing in junior high on your diary in French class”. It’s one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever received, because it confirms that my art really is me, and always has been.

So it’s possible to make a living from your passion?

Yes, it’s possible to make a living from your passion, even if at the outset you have to take risks and accept to leave your comfort zone. I always told myself that I didn’t want to be behind a desk. When I was a chartered accountant, I spent my days sitting behind a desk! I liked numbers and it was easy for me, yet I didn’t feel fulfilled. I felt I wasn’t in the right place.

Is that how you decided to change careers?

I don’t see Leloluce as a career change, but rather as a logical next step, an evolution of sorts!

I’ve always felt this need for independence. I wanted to live without having to answer to anyone and without depending on a boss or a manager.

I didn’t think I could make a living from my art and I didn’t really ask myself the question. But I think that’s the lot of a lot of artists in any field. When you want to be a singer, actress or author, not many people tell you: go for it, you’ll make it. These are tough jobs, and in the end very few of them manage to make a living out of it. But difficult doesn’t mean impossible!

What made you decide to go freelance?

When I was a chartered accountant, a client told me about tax exemption inart. I was immediately fascinated by the subject and became interested. That was kind of my trigger. I was already thinking about setting up my own business, but I didn’t know what. I didn’t have the IDEA! I hadn’t yet found any real added value to create my own company that would thrill me. This discussion was like a wake-up call for me. It awakened the little spark in my belly. I did a lot of research and said to myself, I’m going for it!

I knew how to paint, I was already selling canvases and people liked what I had to offer. I knew the French tax system. Launching my ownart business while advising potential customers on how to save tax for their business was finally a way of combining my two passions! All the while remaining true to my values ofoffering pleasure and happiness to people!

How did your professional career as an artist begin?

To get there, I’ve given myself the means. J
I learned all about theart market and
taxation. I found it fascinating! For a year, I wrote a memoir about my work workmy worksmy customers, my approach to sending it to Paris for a quotation. And it worked! I received my first quotation and that’s when I said to myself that it was really possible and that I could do it!

I then spoke to the regional manager of my consultancy firm, who was very supportive. I was able to take early retirement to set up my own business (thanks to ACRE). Léloluce was born.

Did you end up becoming your own boss?

Yes. I was proud because it’s what I’d always aspired to. And when you’re a young woman in the artistic world, it’s not easy to find your place. It was important to me to succeed and to owe it all to myself. Although, of course, I’m surrounded by lots of people who give me advice, help, support and guidance. For example, I didn’t know anything about chemistry, so I had to go and find it.

My family, my brothers and sisters, my husband, my children, my friends and my customers are endless sources of inspiration for Leloluce. I never workalone , my studio is in an artist’s house. Working in this nursery keeps me socially connected. Beyond the workplace, I rub shoulders with lots of people for my various projects and exhibitions,
partnerships

press relations…. I’m also a member of a network of business leaders with whom we meet every week. I’m independent but always surrounded by people. It’ s reassuring and Ithink it’s important and necessary when you’re self-employed.
 

I imagine you had to overcome a number of obstacles and fears to get there?

Of course! Fear of failure… I’ve invested everything in my business, my time, my heart, and a lot of money. I worked like crazy, day and night. My husband was also scared, he kept telling me “I trust you, but are you sure we’re going to be able to pay for the house?”.

Deep down, I knew and felt that I could do it. Success is also about determination. When you work hard and want it so much, you can’t help but succeed.

I used to love being a chartered accountant, but now that I’m an artist, I feel I can reach out and help a lot more people. I have no limits and that’s extraordinary.

As an artist, I can realize my wildest dreams. I can create infinity. In my old businessAs soon as I mastered the subject, I got bored. I had to find other sources of motivation at work…

Today, I can say that I’m never bored! Every day is different…

I’m always to learn and discover other subjects. I have this need not to be bored and not feel that I’m stagnating in my career
professional
as in my personal life.

How can you make a success of your professional life as a mother?

You spoke earlier about the difficulties of being a woman at work, and more specifically in the artistic world. I imagine that on a personal level, combining your career as an international artist with your family life must be a balancing act?

I set rules for myself. I make a point of taking the children to school and picking them up as often as possible.  When I’m with my family, I cut back to take full advantage of them. Except for advice and feedback, I talk very little about my professional life at home.

A look back at your meteoric rise and fame

You’re a woman, you’re young, you live in a small village in Savoie, you’re not from a family of artists. How do you explain your success, the craze for your work, your soaring quotations and the ever-increasing demand?

I’ve never cheated or played a role. I’ve never sought success, and honestly, I never thought I’d make a living from my art! I’ve been myself from the start. I’ve built my business on strong values:honesty, sharing, passion and sincerity. After that, I like projects and challenges. 

Social networks have also been a lever for success, and are indispensable today if you want to be seen and recognized as an artist.

Your advice for embarking on a major change?

After the COVID crisis, we can feel that the lines have moved. a lot of people want to put meaning into their professional career and do something they believe in or are passionate about. What advice would you give to those who want to get started but don’t know how?

Like all entrepreneurs who have launched themselves, I would simply say: Dare!

If you don’t try, you can’t succeed. Don’t be afraid, because in the end, the only feeling you’ll have is regret at not having tried. I’m not made that way, on the contrary. I can’t live with regrets.  To dare is to take the risk of succeeding.

I lost my father four years ago, and before he died he said to me “my daughter, go for it, I’ve always dreamed of making a living from music, but I’ve never had the courage to try”. I don’t want to die with regrets, so I’m going.

Your future career plans?

You’re always full of projects, so what’s next for you?

The Big Cat World Tour will kick off in Aix les Bains at the French Film Festival in June 2022. The Big Cat World tour is a three-year international tour of the world’s major cities (including Aix les Bains!).

It’s a great achievement and the opportunity to take a wonderful trip with my partner and children. In the meantime, there are some great projects in the pipeline, but you’ll find out about them on my website, as I can’t reveal them just yet. 

With pleasure, we’ll be following you closely on Leloluce.

Finally, what are your defining characteristics?

I would choose :

• Freedom
• Courage
• Happiness
• Passionate
• Joy
• Colors
• Human
• Mom
• In love
• Family
• Funny
• Faithful
• Generous
• Honest

A phrase or quote that motivates you on a daily basis?

“Everything succeeds to those who dream, dare and never give up.”

And THE QUESTION à la Suivez le Zèbre: if you left for a desert island, would you take…?

Still water, a saw, a flint to survive and leave quickly because I need human relationships too much in life.

You can also find more information, resources and tools on Giftedness in Mel POINAS‘ book. With a lot of humor, Mel tells the story of the discovery of her giftedness and the routines she put in place to finally find her place!

To go further, you can read

• Entrepreunariat au féminin entre zèbre
• Personal development, an interesting tool for the gifted
• Can you be a happy gifted adult?
• The best books about High Learning Potential

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