The Atelier

Tucked in a studio at the Marché Dauphine (Dauphine Market) in the iconic antique neighborhood of St-Ouen sits the atelier (workshop) of Charlotte Terriou, a papier-mâché sculptor and antique dealer.

The Artist

When I was last in Paris, I stopped by her workshop, Atelier Terre et Fibre, to say bonjour. I had previously purchased a stunning antique baluster from her store for my apartment and wanted to see the new treasures she had collected since then. When I arrived, Terriou was perched on the small mezzanine in her artist studio, sculpting mushrooms! Seeing her in action was inspiring and a story I knew you would love. 

Creative Inspiration

Tales and legends inspire Terriou's artwork; her pieces evoke nature, fantastic bestiary, and poetry. The antique pieces displayed in her shop contribute to the botanical fairy-tale atmosphere of her art with vintage wooden desks, patinaed white Chambord Urns, and other unique pieces with history and charm.

The Process

The artistic process of her work is intricate and fascinating to watch. She starts each sculpture with a wire base, then applies newspaper to add volume. The papier-mâché is layered on top of the structure, building its shape. Terriou sometimes adds sand to the paper before it dries to give it a stone texture. To finish the piece, she uses tempera pigments to give the art a natural patinaed look. On the papier-mâché mushroom sculptures shown below, she added moss to the base, evoking a mythical yet realistic botanical design. Like all of her sculptures, each one is handmade and unique.

Charlotte Terriou chez Les Fleurs

As for those beautiful champignons (mushrooms) she was sculpting when I arrived? I brought them all back to the shop! We love to display them with plants and glass cloches for a whimsical garden feel.

XOXO,
Sandra

To learn more, follow Charlotte Terriou:
Instagram @CharlotteTerriou
Facebook @atelier terre et fibre
Website Atelier-TerreFibre.com