In the barn of her home in the rural hamlet of La Massuère in Sougé-le-Ganelon, Sarthe, France, 74-year-old artist Joëlle Sourron is displaying an extraordinary collection of artwork that tells a story of resilience and adaptation. What makes her exhibition unique is not just the rural setting or the intimate venue, but the remarkable technique she uses to create her art – painting with her finger.
Sourron's current exhibition, featuring about fifteen works, runs through the end of September 2025 and showcases her dedication to pursuing artistic expression in rural environments while sharing her deep passion for painting with the public. Since 2014, this native of Le Mans has been creating her art using only her right index finger, the result of a life-changing medical event that forced her to completely reimagine her artistic practice.
Born in Le Mans, Sourron followed a traditional academic path, pursuing studies in literature and earning both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in modern literature, as well as an additional master's degree in Spanish. Throughout her professional career, she worked primarily within the French Treasury Department (Trésor Public), but her true passion always lay elsewhere.
"I've loved drawing and painting since childhood," Sourron recalls. Her artistic journey took a more formal turn in the 1980s when she initially enrolled in evening classes at the Fine Arts school in Le Mans. However, this experience didn't resonate with her. "I took evening classes at the Le Mans Fine Arts school for three months, but I didn't like it," she explains.
Undeterred, Sourron later enrolled at the École de peinture des Alpes Mancelles (Painting School of the Mancelles Alps), where she found her artistic calling. There, she had the opportunity to meet and learn from notable artists Bernard Koura and Jacqueline Andréozzi. "I had a real breakthrough moment and began exhibiting my paintings and charcoal sketches," she remembers of this transformative period in her artistic development.
However, in 2013, Sourron's peaceful retirement life in the countryside was dramatically disrupted when she suffered a stroke (AVC - Accident Vasculaire Cérébral). This medical emergency would fundamentally change not only her daily life but also her approach to creating art.
"I spent several months at the Arche center for rehabilitation," Sourron explains about the challenging recovery period that followed. "After that battle, I gradually resumed my artistic activities, but progressively, my right hand became paralyzed and I could no longer hold a brush."
Faced with the prospect of potentially giving up her lifelong passion, Sourron refused to accept defeat. Instead, she began experimenting with alternative methods to continue creating art. Her solution was both simple and ingenious – she would paint with her right index finger, the only digit that retained sufficient functional capacity.
"Since I'm not left-handed at all, it was impossible for me to switch hands," she explains about the practical challenges she faced. "I have to admit that the adaptation was actually easy after just a few hours of work." What's more remarkable is how Sourron has embraced this new technique, finding unexpected benefits in her forced adaptation.
"Today, I would even say that I prefer my paintings with this technique – I find them more luminous," she confides, demonstrating how necessity has become a source of artistic innovation and personal satisfaction.
The exhibition at La Massuère represents more than just a display of artwork; it's a testament to the power of adaptation and the unquenchable nature of artistic passion. Sourron's finger-painting technique has not only allowed her to continue her artistic practice but has actually enhanced her work in ways she never anticipated.
Visitors to the exhibition can witness firsthand how adversity has been transformed into artistic opportunity. Each piece in the collection represents not just creative expression, but also the triumph of determination over physical limitation. The rural setting of the exhibition, in the converted barn of her own home, adds an intimate dimension to the viewing experience, allowing visitors to connect more directly with both the artist and her remarkable journey.
Sourron's story resonates particularly strongly in the context of rural artistic communities, where resources may be limited but creativity and determination often flourish. Her decision to exhibit in her own community rather than seeking urban gallery spaces reflects a commitment to making art accessible and demonstrating that artistic expression can thrive anywhere.
The exhibition continues through the end of September 2025, offering visitors the opportunity to experience this unique collection of finger-painted works and to meet an artist who has redefined what it means to adapt and persevere in the face of physical challenges. For Sourron, the stroke that could have ended her artistic career instead opened a new chapter, one that has brought unexpected luminosity to her work and inspiration to all who encounter her story.
