Hi, I’m Victor and I’m a concept-artist, currently working at Tuque Games! And here is my story!

What is the best thing that I love about my work?

Talk through visuals. It is always a mess when I use words.

What is my idea of perfect happiness?

Being surrounded by creative and lovely people, and grow as an artist and as a human being. Getting inspired every day by talented artists and friends or the most insignificiant detail.
And peperroni pizzas.

What is my greatest fear?

I fear to don’t feel the need to be better, as a human being. We can say I fear being an asshole, yes.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?

I’m not able to be satisfied with what I achieve, in my art and personal life. I’m constantly a frustrated guy, The world can tell me that what I do is great, there will be always a little voice saying “Naaa, don’t listen to them, you should have done your stuff better!”
It helps me to improve, but sometimes, I just wanna be happy and I didn’t find the right key yet.

Which living persons in my profession do i most admire?

I’m not really a social media guy. Sharing through internet is super cool, but I always preferred to meet the industry people for real through conventions, and then keep contact with them after.
I’m in a great studio since two monthes and I work with two concept-artist who worked on amazing AAA projects and licences…and they give absolutely no shit about being famous on the internet. They do as best what they love the most, art, and that’s all. And I admire them for living their art journey as pure as I wish to live my own.

What is my greatest extravagance?

I like to build stuff. Next project: build all the furnitures of my next apartment.

On what occasion would I lie?

We all lie. Every day. On everyday things.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?

The polishing process.
I prefer the creative part, when you have to find the ideas of composition, wich colors, how to improve the contrast…the main idea.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work?

When I was a teacher at LISAA, Paris. I love to share with students, to see their improvments, debate with them, and most of all, learn.
For me, a teacher is the student who learns the most.

If I could, what would I change about myself?

My eyes! I was born blind and because surgery, sometimes it’s PAINFUL AS HELL!
And get the blue eyes from my mother, sorry dad, hope you’ll not give me also your majestic baldness!

What is my greatest achievement in work?

It’s quit a recent story.
We all have something that inspired us, a book, a movie, comics, etc, that convinced us to do art.
Me it was Deus Ex Human Revolution, I loved it for the artistic direction. I loved it so much I made some fanarts about it.
One of my colleague worked on this game. One week after my integration in the team at Tuque, she asked me if this DeusEx fanart in my portfolio was mine. I said yes and asked why and she replied that it was one of the team inspiration for the next game of this IP.
She will certainly read this qand laugh about it but it means for me that all those years of doubt means something…worth it!

What do the words ‘The Financial Freedom to Create’ mean to me?

Being able to pay the bills while drawing cool stuff. So have a peaceful mind and think fully about your craft.

Where would I most like to live?

A house in a suburb near of a multicultural city. With a garage to build stuff and a garden.
Surrounded by mountains and able to go to the beach at the same time.

What is my most treasured possession?

My glasses.
I can’t see shit without!

What is my most marked characteristic?

I communicate a lot with my team and I’m curious about their job, They give me different point of views I would never had by myself and its precious to do art.
And I speak loud and fast.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city?

Montreal metro.
It’s certainly one of the ugliest place but I love to sit, observe people and wondering how their life could be.

What is my favourite place to eat and drink, in my city?

To eat: Le Bon’D. I love to take my breakfast here, unlimited coffee, zen place, and I like to draw people here.
To drink: The Bootlegger. Amazing scotch, and jam session thursday. Always a cool place to bring your friends.

What books influenced my life and how?

Harry Potter! But I’ve been mostly influenced by French and Belgian comic books, Peyo, Goscinny & Uderzo, Franquin… And one day, I discovered my uncle library, and all the authors from the hilarious adult comics collective Fluide Glacial feat Coyote, Gotlib, Alexis, Edika, Maester… And Joe Bar Team by Bar2, if you love motorcycles, this is a must read!
Certainly not good read for a child but surely it explain why I’m always swearing atrocious french words, putain de bordel de merde.

Who are my favorite writers?

When it goes to novels, I don’t take time to read enough…but here we go for Leopold Sedar Senghor, Graham McNeill, Dan Abnett, Victor Hugo, Voltaire, Choderlos de Laclos, Samuel Beckett…
Wow, I’m able to tell more than two writers!!!

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?

The Bluest Blues by Alvin Lee. Always gives me the chills!
Oh, and Sincerely with love by Lordi. Hear it, you’ll not be disappointed.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?

Maybe I grow up, but Asterix will always be the one.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?

My father. He always trusted in my artistic journey, learned me to dream and sacrificied all to pay me studies.
My mother. Because now I know how to do accounting.
And Ray Charles. He has a glaucoma like me. He was not lucky as I was but that didn’t stop him.

Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime?

The Green Mile with Tom Hanks. It will forever break my heart.

What role plays art in my life and work?

I can see someone in the street and her coat is so cool I would like to make a clothe design based on it. Or this abandoned building, could be a great reference for this project I’m working on…art is here, around me. Without it, I would feel…empty.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?

Fan: A ComfortZone CZ161 16” with 4 speeds
Sponsor: Optical Center in Montreal.
Partner in crime : Emile Louis.

What? Did I misunderstood something?

Whom would I like to work with in 2019?

Passionate people. I don’t care who but I love when people could take for hours with passion about their dreams and do all they can to achieve it!
And I’m lucky enough to say I’m in a team full of people like that.

Which people in my profession would i love to meet in 2019?

The thing when you wear glasses as big as mine is people remind you easily, because your disability is really huge.
There was a guy I met some years ago. When we met again in Montreal, he told me that he reminds me very well. Automatically, I replied it’s certainly because my glasses.
He told me that no, it’s because my smile.
This guy is Raphael Lacoste. Raph, if you read me, would love to share a drink!

What project, in 2019, am I looking forward to work on?

I would like to finish a video project based on Warhammer 40.000. But I’m lazy.

Where can you see me or my work?

You can see my work on:
Artstation : https://www.artstation.com/vik0
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/victorlahlou/

Website : https://victorlahlou.com/

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?

That I’ll die doing something I love.

Which creative heroes should Peter invite to tell their story?

Erwann Brun. I’m sure he’s gonna tell “why the hell Victor named me, we didn’t talk since ages?!” but he helped me to grow as a teacher and as an artist, mostly through an alcolohic rampage, one night in Paris while I was wondering what I’m doing with my miserable life.
Elise Galmard. A narrative designer. Since I quit Paris, I miss her so much, the kind of people you would like to share too much feels and drink while telling about how’s life can sometimes be a b…
Alexis Kerjosse. The same as Elise. But as 3d animator. And with a dick.

How can you contact me?

On my artstation or Instagram, or through my email address : victor.lahlou@gmail.com
And my Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorlahlou/