About Atelier Creatura

Hi, I’m Valérie — the artist and human behind Atelier Creatura.

A Canadian artist and lifelong creator with a deep love for animals, nature, and storytelling through handcrafted work. I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember. Drawing, crafting, sculpting, painting, music. If it involved making something out of nothing, I was completely captivated.

Atelier Creatura began in 2016 during a time when life felt a little heavy. My therapist suggested I reconnect with something that genuinely brought me joy. The answer was immediate: creating. What started as a way to ground myself slowly grew into something much bigger than I ever expected.

The studio first opened online through Etsy and quickly grew thanks to an incredibly kind, enthusiastic and passionate community. Today, Atelier Creatura exists as a small independent studio where I create limited collections of wearable creature-inspired art.

I have always been, and will proudly remain, a certified nature and wildlife nerd. Walks with me tend to include frequent stops to admire birds, insects, squirrels, or any mysterious tiny being going about its day. As a child, I spent a suspicious amount of time pretending to be various animals, which in hindsight feels like early career preparation.

I’m also a perfectionist (the charming but occasionally exhausting kind). It pushes me to refine details and obsess over craftsmanship, while constantly reminding me to protect the joy that made me start creating in the first place. I’m still learning that balance; slowly, gently, and with many cups of coffee.

My studio is rarely a solo adventure. My cat, Tichat, serves as official studio supervisor and professional nap consultant. His name comes from petit chat (“little cat” in French), a tribute to his tiny beginnings as the smallest kitten of his litter. He now oversees production by sleeping nearby and offering moral support.

I was also lucky to share my workspace with my beloved budgie, Kiwi. My tiny artistic coordinator. He loved observing everything I did, cheerfully chirping what I like to imagine were creative opinions and quality checks. After he passed away, the studio felt much quieter. I placed a photo of him in his favorite spot where he used to perch, so it still feels like he’s watching over the work :).

Today, I continue to create Atelier Creatura pieces in small quantities, approaching each one slowly and intentionally. Every creation is a small meeting point between craftsmanship, imagination, and the beautiful world around us.

Thank you for being here, for supporting independent art, and for giving these creations a home.

~ Val