Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

As is customary at this time of the year, the props have been deployed...

... for the enjoyment of the little ones and the whole family. It's time to be kids again!

My best wishes to everyone who crossed my blog pages!

Ultimate fighter II final... One last experiment on raw canvas prepping!

After completing my last painting, I decided to repeat it on a 50% cotton/50% linen canvas, but this time around sealing the back of the canvas (instead of the front) with some acrylic medium mixed with water...

 I cut corners a little on this one taking about 5 hours to cover the 36 X 36 surface using somewhat of an abbreviated design relative to the previous piece...

 I like the pastel-like, watercolor-like aspects of the rendering, but edges may be too fuzzy for my liking especially considering the requirements of my upcoming series which will focus on the human figure. I'm tempted to revert back to my initial approach with raw canvas, i.e.,  minimally priming the canvas with acrylic medium mixed with water. I've been successful right off the bat with this method painting flocks of birds and the bald eagle. The alternative approach is to patiently apply color washes at the initial stage thus sealing the canvas at least partially. I am just curious about the effect of pure staining, but in my view the aggravation (fuzzy edges, difficulty in spreading paint around) may not be worth it. On the other hand, I like the coarseness and the extra textures I'm getting from raw canvas... in the end it's a matter of balance... I'll play it by ear!
Note to self: "I don't mind the effect of the light grey background on skin tone with this one. Getting used to a new look and new canvas properties could be the name of the game here. I like the new qualities, but what am I leaving behind. As usual, I'm forever attracted to the unknown!"

Ultimate fighter I final... Literally changing direction with this piece!

After a  few surgical interventions, I decided to present this piece sideways... as a means to leverage any abstraction patterns emanating from interlocking body parts and to create a disbalance...

I think I will call this one "toss up"...

Note to self: "I need to get back to my usual minimal prep work for raw cotton canvas. Using too many color passes to compensate for an excessively absorbent surface took a toll on freshness."

Ultimate fighter I - close to final.. Still assessing technicalities: not all canvases are created equal!

I've been working by one hour spurt with this painting, literally. I decided to go with no "minimal" prep work (diluted acrylic medium) on regular raw cotton canvas...

Although I don't mind the result, I'm after the same surface quality as the one I obtained with my last series (large scale portraits). I need to varnish this one to determine how I will proceed with this new series. Thus far, I'm satisfied with results achieved with 50%cotton/50% linen raw canvas (light grey background).

Ultimate fighter I - step IV... Committing to a color scheme!

 The vision I had for this color pass didn't quite materialize but I seem to be getting closer to where I want to be, i.e., "colorful monochromatic" ...

 ... I used carbon black instead of turquoise phtalo by mistake... but this could be a blessing in disguise since I want my darks to be pitch black in strategic areas! I need more knife work to recuperate some color nuances and textures before I call it quit. I shied away from the idea of going more abstract since this composition is all lines and dark masses.

Ultimate fighter I - step III... Adapting to the new canvas!

Without realizing it, I bought a roll of raw canvas with a tighter weave than what I normally use. In retrospect, this may be to my advantage considering my staining technique and my use of transparent colors for the most part. I slapped a couple of color passes this morning trying to assess the situation fast...

.... and found out that I'm probably in business with this one! With the last pass, I'd like to introduce more color variation and a certain degree of imprecision/abstraction.

Ultimate fighter I - step II... Roughing it out before getting serious!

With barely an hour at my disposal today, I took the opportunity to restate the underpainting using darker values in preparation for color passages...

 As I did with flamenco dancers, I want to use a full gamete of colors and introduce even more variations in my textures...

This is a 36 X 36 canvas.

Ultimate fighter I - step I... Fishing for an additional painting stream with more testosterone!

Still exploring possibilities for new painting streams next year, I decided to push my luck in the sports area with the ultimate fighter as potential subject...

 I want to exploit the abstract patterns of interlocking body parts! I changed my brand of canvas... so this is experimental in more than one way!

Behind women's eyes X final... Getting closer to where I want to be!

This one ended up being pretty much the sum total of every techniques that I've learned or developed over the last three years...

I feel a bit more secured about working on a new series, not parting dramatically from my usual process but leveraging my current knowledge and all the tools at my disposal to create even more personal works in 2011. In final analysis, my recent experiments created a multiplicity of choices, which I played against each other to finally branch out in a direction that seems to offer the most potential for me moving forward.

Behind women's eyes X - step II... Looking for gut-wrenching beauty!

At every exhibition, I always seem to have at least one painting that sends people in the opposite direction. This could be the one...

... at any rate, I wouldn't want to be in a dark alley with this character! Another subtle pass should do it for me.

In terms of artistic direction... I have a feeling I'm finally branching out! I seem to be in a position to optimize my painting process without fundamentally changing it, finally giving way to pure expression as opposed to technique.

Behind women's eyes X ... Time to seize the moment!

Lately, I've been alternating frantically with different supports (canvases) and techniques with the hope of finding a creative path that's totally me in 2011. As I mentioned before, 2010 was a good year to make further inroads in the areas of color and textures with acrylics. Some of my recent experiments pointed to potentially creative avenues for me, others validated certain techniques and philosophies that I've adhered to thus far. After these creative perturbations, it's time to release to a higher order:

• I want visceral contemporary art, not solely illustrative or decorative art. 
• I want deconstruction in my images, the type associated with the expression of fragments of memory. 
• I want textures, unusual textures and more variety in them.
• More than anything else, I want freedom in my execution!

I'm starting the next painting with this "modus operandi" in mind...

 ....  want this one to be the sum total of everything that I've learned so far.

Note: The previous painting suggested a potential return to a more conservative approach, negating the lessons learned from my recent experiments. This was a strong prompter to reassess what I really wanted from my art...

Note to self: "Once the mind stretches, it doesn't go back to its original form."

Jaguar woman I final... Went through this one like a steam roller!

After having worked on a larger scale for a while, I found working on this composition a little more tedious...

  ... even though the smallest brush I used for details was a flat beveled half inch one. Until the end of the year, I'll be looking for scrap reference materials... to keep painting... simply because there are some brushes and paint around... and because there is always the prospect of a happy accident!

Note: I'm slowly firming up my ideas with regard to how I will approach my next "Smoke and mirrors" painting theme ...

Jaguar woman I - close to final... Trying to stick with the program!

Still pressed with time today, I invested another hour on this canvas...

 Because of my favouring staining colors for transparency... all of a sudden, the advantages of raw canvas become quite obvious as I spread colors on this gessoed canvas. An interesting key learning for me... that I will put to good use in my future works. Also my experience with cotton/linen (light grey) canvases has been an eye opener... I don't need to use black and white to attenuate transparent colors as I did last year. I may come back to attenuated colors in my future series to create more drama...

Note: I made a special effort with this one to mix more colors directly on canvas...

Jaguar woman I - step II... The title and the painting: the tail of the dog is wagging the dog!

I like to play with words, and I found out recently that many of my "supposedly creative" expressions are already featured in the English urban dictionary. Case in point, a jaguar is defined, to my surprise, as a 50+ year old woman who likes to go after much younger men (in essence, the next level after a cougar!). Cumulative plastic surgeries often give these women slanted eyes, hence the appellation "jaguar". Well, I'll be damned... may as well follow suit with this painting...

 I barely had an hour today to define the character of the woman a little further... and I decided to go for a feline/oriental look, which I may attenuate a little. In parallel to that, I tried to figure out the background while thinking about my next moves and corrections at the third and final pass. I'm not doing any pirouettes regarding textures with this one.

Note: I don't have the guts to make a statement about these women "à la Otto Dix" (could have done that based on my 1st step!).... so she will get progressively prettier and softer!"

Note to self: "Ever since I dreamed about a jaguar last summer, I've been haunted by the idea of doing something with this theme... it's now of never! I also want to include multiple meanings and ambiguity in my paintings in the future. This will go in line with my "smoke and mirror" umbrella theme for 2011."

Jaguar woman I - step I... Applying lessons learned from one support to the other!

These days, I'm looking around for any piece of left over canvas that I can use to experiment further. My intent is to fiddle around until January 2011, before starting any new series. Although my basic painting techniques haven't change much over the last few years, in 2010, I dedicated more time to the exploration of colors and textures. The use of raw canvas recently has led me to mix more paint directly on canvas (somehow it felt more comfortable). With this experiment, I want to see the impact of this newly acquired behaviour on regular gessoed canvas...

The jaguar theme came about last summer during a dream, but I followed suit with only one painting to date, and rather timidly. This time around I want to go "animal"!

Note: I'm not sure how much will be left from the background when I'm finished... but is was fun to let go with this first pass!

Behind women's eyes IX final... Seeking receding black holes on canvas!

In final analysis, I decided to go for a conservative "coloration" approach for my first black and white rendition of the human figure...

 I leveraged the black and grey underpainting the best I could using transparent color layers along with textured passages. I shied away from a more overt partial coloration... and don't mind the potentially visceral contemporary look that this technique can impart to some of my future works.

Note: Pure black is avoided by purists, but my experience with Chinese black ink has given me an appreciation for it. In my view, pure black is a "dead" color that literally creates space through the canvas and beyond, not unlike black holes in the universe, the imagination helping! Conversely, color passages come forward, as if gushing out!

Based on my previous experiments, I see two key artistic opportunities for me in 2011:

• The use a black and grey underpainting before the application of color
• Opposing abstract patterns to figuration: either normal paint over metallic paint, normal paint throughout, or metallic paint over normal paint

Behind women's eyes IX - step I... Going for a clashing of styles and techniques!

This experiment has been simmering in my mind for a while, i.e., trying to go for a partial coloration of a black and white rendition of the human figure...

 My technical know how is now allowing me to do this the way I envisioned it. I'm not sure how I will approach coloration though... I will soon find out! I want a totally contemporary look...

Note: The linen/cotton canvas I'm using for this may not be the best solution, but it will do for now!

Flamenco dancer II final... Trying to hit the constructive "deconstruction" mark!

Funnily enough with this 3rd pass, I basically follow through with what I did in the previous flamenco dancer painting...

In the second version, I've added highlights to test the impact of greater contrasts. My intention is to get at ease clashing abstraction and figuration. Achieving a proper balance remains a challenge.

Note to self: "Gee, I've already got used to the clashing color scheme of the previous painting... and couldn't go back to my more conservative colors with this one! Do I need to ?"

Flamenco dancer II - step II ... Zipping through the 2nd pass!

A busy non-artistic day today acting like a gerbil! I did have 30 minutes to block the canvas for this painting some more...

 A third pass should do it for me... going for impasto passages and stronger contrasts. I'm still getting acquainted with paint behaviour... and as paint sinks in, I see an opportunity to leverage this phenomenon to mix transparent colors directly on canvas....

Note: My inclination is still color... so may as well roll with the punch!

Note to self: "There will always be time to go back to Zen painting sooner or later!"
Subnote to self: "Gotta try charcoal on raw canvas!"

Flamenco dancer II - step I... Back to raw canvas!

I had a second flamenco pose in the back burner, and this was an opportunity to try the figure on raw canvas for the first time...

For some darn reason, working on raw canvas feels very natural for me! There is potential for a new and innovative look in my works while remaining true to my painting principles. This new look could be a composite of everything that appeals to me: the Chinese black ink look, the watercolor look, the drawing/pastel look, the oil impasto look. I'll push this painting to its limits for the sake of artistic curiosity...

Note: I'm roughing this one out with no concern about style or a specific look... I paint my usual way letting the support dictate the effect... I'm still in the experimental mode before my next series!

Claudel won't make it at my upcoming exhibition... and it's good news!

Camille Claudel, Rodin's muse for 10 years, has been haunting me ever since I laid my eyes on a black and white photograph of her.  This summer, I did a an experiment with metallic paint that left me somewhat "gaga"...

Looks like my best friend from Toronto couldn't resist her either... and he bought the painting on the spot when he came to visit us last night with his lovely wife (I've known this couple for more than 30 years).

A big thank you Paul and Manon for your appreciation for my art!!!

Note: The painting has been photographed at an angle to show the impact of metallic paint... although it needs to be viewed in person...

Note to self (out of context): "Deconstruction as a way to achieve movement... I did this easily with flocks of birds on raw canvas... can I do it with faces and figures? Is this my path to achieving total freedom in figuration? If it is... then style will need to be subservient to that! The key painting principles that I adhere to (freedom,spontaneity and transparency) are beyond style to a certain extent..."

Subnote to self: "I need to welcome these moments of relative confusion between series... they are opportunities for quantum leaps!"

Flamenco dancer I - final... Preparing the grounds for a new series in 2011!

Thanks to all who volunteered comments in the context of this highly experimental piece (some came via Facebook). This morning, I gave it a few finishing touches to see how far I could go with this idea, which started with my previous partial deconstruction of a face a few weeks ago...

 last summer, I planted the seed of "deconstruction" in my mind, i.e., the idea of partially fading a face or a figure into the background to create an aura of mystery. To that effect, I wanted to use expressive brush marks (almost destructive!) to partially obliterate the initial figurative design. This experiment is a step in that direction... and it's no surprise that I've elected to use a loose piece of canvas to do it!

With regard to my palette, I also want to make greater use of yellow and red in 2011 to add some punch to my fairly monochromatic color schemes (colorful in a close up but rather monochromatic from a distance). This is another frontier in color exploration for me, and it will require some readjustments.

Other than that, I will vary the grounds (raw canvas, gessoed canvas) to promote further variations in the look of my works. I've gained a fair amount of freedom in my figurative work in 2010 (more palette knife helped) and I'm heading in the direction of even more freedom in 2011.

A new series in 2011: "Smoke and mirrors" will be used as a platform for these new approaches under development...

Note: I cropped a few inches from the upper section for better balance...

Note to self: "It finally dawn on me that what I really want with this exercise is to provoke a clash between pure abstraction and pure figuration, disorganization and organization, ugliness and beauty!"

Subnote to self: "It also dawn on me that the foundation of my art so far has been around the use of high contrasts and fairly muted colors applied with less nuances (fairly flat) and with deliberate separation between color areas (sort of more of an urban look in the making). The painting above would be a departure from that, akin to going from "power" to "cuteness", at least in my view. What can I say? Any new potential development offers an opportunity to cogitate! I must not lose my anchors! Let's say that with this painting, I've absorbed the painterly approach! Need to stick to the program!"

Flamenco dancer I - step III... Putzing around but not quite ready for the "Puliputzer" prize!

I finally engaged in my destructive ways with the painting currently on the block...

 I'm left somewhat bewildered... but not stunned enough not to see the potential behind this technique! A few targeted interventions, if any, should do it for me.

Note to self: "I couldn't walk and chew gum with this one due to an uncomfortable new technique for me. Better get used to it though... if I'm to leave behind my old ways!"

Flamenco dancer I step II... I have nothing to lose, but need to part from Toulouse!

With this first color pass, I decided to part from my usual color scheme for the underpainting, in an attempt to cast the dye as early as possible to achieve a new look in the end....

 At this stage, I feel this piece is remotely reminiscent of a Toulouse Lautrec... but not for long! I still want to do some deconstruction. A saving grace, I have a picture of this step as consolation prize if I fail at the last yard....
Note: I used to like the monochromatic look reminiscent of Chinese black ink painting. My exposure to urban contemporary art recently has triggered something in me, and I want more color variations and abstract patterns in my future figurative work...

Note to self: "These days I seem to merely absorb what has been done before... an important step in the path for innovation.... I guess!"

Still summer in Québec... but only on 10% of the territory!

Every year, at this time of the year, I feel the need to digitally capture the last remnants of summer...

 ... and this is probably the last walk in the park with two of our grand kids in 2010...

 A saving grace, I'll have no choice but to paint sooner or later... winter is coming fast... and it's far from "a walk in the park" in this neck of the woods!

This afternoon, I decided to do another one of those loose canvas experiment...

 .... I want to deconstruct another face... again! May be I should quit while I'm ahead!

Bateman como pretexto - American recession III final... Ending the trilogy cold turkey!

My main purpose with this series was to pursue my experiments with different grounds (raw linen, raw cotton and metallic underpainting). I also wanted to give a shot at some conceptual art...

 Linen provided a cold background (above painting), cotton a warm one (middle painting, first picture) and metallic paint (painting on the right, first picture) some interesting reflections depending on the viewing angle. The use of raw canvas is interesting from the stand point of allowing staining techniques like watercolors, as well as textural effects without having to rely on heavy paint. There is also the possibility of using charcoal sticks to obtain blacks and grays very much like Chinese black ink.

With these new tools, I'm ready for some serious work  on a new series: "Smoke and mirrors". 

Note to self: "This exercise has reinforced my desire to pursue expressionism, in other words, temporarily swinging back to a more conservative approach has led to a counter effect in the other direction! In particular, I want to further explore deconstruction techniques and color."

Subnote to self: "I'm no Tapies!"

Bateman como pretexto - American recession III - step I... Back to the art of painting, without painting!

Pursuing my implementation of a stream of ideas on the American recession, I started this one today to experiment on raw linen as opposed to regular raw canvas...

 I'm still staining at this stage, but wouldn't mind introducing some textural effects during the second pass. Haven't decided yet what I will do.... this is another 36 X 36 canvas.

Note: These are a break from real painting. A new series is simmering in my mind.... while I'm doing these "no brainer" paintings. At the same time, I'm getting used to transposing ideas on canvas, however far fetched they may be! I will need that big time for my upcoming series...

Bateman como pretexto - American recession II final... A wrestling match with new techniques!

I finished off the background with a series of glazes and opaque passages, wiping out paint wherever I felt the need to do so (out of desperation?)...

 At some point in time, I was not sure if I was coming or going! With more planning, I see potential with these staining techniques on raw canvas... but the real potential can be found by unleashing all techniques at once... without thinking too much!

Bateman como pretexto - American recession II - step I... Back to the sarcastic me!

Although I'm still intrigued about metallic paint for certain applications, I believe my future resides elsewhere... a deduction from my recent experiments in that area! I'm back to raw canvas with this one...

 My next step will be to introduce some interesting patterns in the sky without competing too much against the flying birds, which also need further refinements...

I'll be staining and dripping... hopefully not down the drain! I hope the bald eagle will not take it too personally .... but it's something I have to get out of my system!

Note to self: "This crude ground (raw canvas) appeals to the crude part in me! Sooner or later, I'll be painting on the ground using both charcoal and paint, like the men from Lascaux!"

Behind women's eyes VIII - extended... Back to deconstruction!

Busy these days with the winterization of my home and that of my parents, I still find some time to keep plugging  away with my experiments on deconstruction...

 ... evidently for me, it's easier to deconstruct a relatively finished image than to systematically produce a deconstructed one right from the start in a step-wise fashion... I just don't have that kind of imagination! For this one, I started wiping out paint like crazy for the first time... another technique I had shied away from... this is perhaps a good omen!

Note to self: "This is worth pursuing!"

Behind women's eyes VIII final... The halloween special!

I hastily went for a 3rd coat this morning, as if wanting to put this exercise behind me as fast as I could...

 I saw this one as a confidence builder in the art of moving paint around as opposed to a quantum leap in my artistic development. Every now and then I feel the need to let go... to sort of ventilate artistically! There is always the prospect of discovery... in this case, it's simply a reaffirmation of my usual techniques and color palette!

Note to self: "I realize that I like the control of building up as opposed to going alla prima right from the start. I prefer the route of transparency in the form of 2-3 rapid layers. Although I still favour monochromatic color schemes, I see potential for more colors in my future works based on any of the three steps leading to this final work."

Behind women's eyes VIII - step II... Discarding the rules for a while!

I leisurely put a 2nd coat of paint, this afternoon, on this painting in progress...

My previous elucubrations seemed to have set the stage a little... scary stuff!

Note to self: "Each time I decide to paint with a roller... I learn something... I think!"

Behind women's eyes VIII - step I... A colorful experiment: searching for the colorist in me... if any!

Not feeling like painting today, I decided to do an experiment in the use of primary colors in the rendering of skin tones, another idea that has been simmering in my mind for a while...

This is not necessarily a style that I want to adopt in the future, but rather something that I want to implement for the sake of curiosity... and to rid myself of the fear of using bold colors and of my over-dependence on analogous color schemes! In the end though, this experiment is bound to have an impact on my future paintings! I zipped through this first pass like a mad man!

Note: One experiment leads to another. In this case, my use of primary color accents with the previous eagle scene led to this experiment...

Note to self: "Color separation is still an unfulfilled objective of mine... time to tackle that beast!"

Bateman como pretexto - American recession I final... Trying to make a mark with marks!

A busy weekend as a helper at a house construction site and as the "constant gardener" getting ready for winter. I gave a last kick at the can at my painting in progress this morning...

 This time around I used self leveling gel to make embossed marks on metallic paint (photographing the painting in the sun would help visualize this). The effect is interesting at different viewing angles . With regard to the messaging behind this painting, I'll leave it open to interpretation!

Note: I'm interested in incorporating multi-layered  meanings in my future works using colors and graphics. This is a timid 1st attempt, so to speak!

Bateman como pretexto - American recession I - step II... Forgot how tedious animal painting can be!

This second pass took me 1.5 hour, although I'm using my usual loose style...

Some more finetuning, and I'm off to the races with calligraphic marks in strategic areas. Needless to say, this is quite experimental!

Bateman como pretexto - American recession I - step I... Trying to get enough rope to hang myself!

This has been simmering in my mind for a while, a series on the American recession featuring the bald eagle...

My plan is to use metallic paint mixed with normal paint... going transparent or opaque depending on the area to cover. I'm basically mingling all the metallic paint techniques that I've used so far. I also want to do some deconstruction work with this one as well.

The premise of this series is that it's hard to soar like an eagle when you're with a bunch of turkeys! I'm looking at 4-5 paintings in this series.  This is a 36 X 36 canvas...

Note: I'm not too hard on the bald eagle... a well known Quebec artist entered Brooklyn with a tarred bald eagle, a take off on the concept of  being " tarred and feathered"... the message behind that piece was obvious!

Flock II - revisited... Trying to work at deconstruction... in a constructive way!

After some thinking about my future moves in art... I decided to push the deconstruction of my previous picture a little further to test ground in this new area for me...

... there's no two ways about it, gotta get deconstruction techniques down path if I'm to depict movement in a most convincing fashion! My previous to last "flock" painting also reminded me of the importance of the void within the picture plane, except that this void must be made interesting in my view (I'm thinking textural effects). It also reminded me of the importance of mark making... if the image is not readable in a close up (this is where I'm going with one stream of my future works), then marks need to be made interesting. With regard to the use of raw canvas... I still need to experiment with free flowing staining techniques (so far, I've done only smudging!). Other than that, I'm still obsessed with the elusiveness of images painted with metallic paint... and want to incorporate in them strong calligraphic marks in bold colors using normal paint.

Needless to say, I've got my work cut out during the next few months!

flock II final... Another experiment in partial deconstruction!

This one ended up being more conservative because of the point of view but it blends fairly well with the previous one...

 ... still, I managed to leave some birds unresolved... a challenge for the purist but a new evolutionary step for me!
 Taking a break from raw canvas, my next move will be to address the American recession but using metallic paint and calligraphic marks as I did with the painting before... for more of a contemporary look...

Note: I'm planning to present the 2 paintings (each one 36 X 36) to my 92 year old father tomorrow... to see his reaction. Although they are just experiments, they could lead the path to more serious works in the area of image deconstruction....

Flock II - step I... Back to the blur!

This is a 2nd attempt on raw canvas... trying to discard the subject in favour of general impressions expressed in colors...

This flock series is allowing me to paint in total abandon... and I'm surprised at the degree of "subject retention" that I have achieved despite my being sloppy! The palette knife should help me "abstract" the birds a little more on the 2nd pass.

Note: I'm interested in using raw canvas in the future and this one is my 4th painting. My interest stems from the fact that raw canvas behaves a little like watercolor rag paper and is perfectly suited for acrylics. This has the effect of improving my creative "cockiness"! My next experiments will be on Belgium linen... but with my usual subject matters!

Behind women's eyes VII final... Destroying one's own work... getting the knack of it!

Another interesting experience to improve my intestinal fortitude in the use of gutsy moves...

... as usual, my first approach is always timid, but it's a start!

Note to self: "We live in a society bombarded with myriads images... so I see an opportunity in introducing an image component in an otherwise totally expressive painterly mess! Dosing these 2 approaches remains the challenge."

Behind women's eyes VII - step I .... a post-mortem spasm for this series!

I seem to be in the mode for experimentation again... or is it a constant state of affairs with me! I'd like to go for a mixture of styles with this one... sort of a potpourri of techniques including metallic paint and some image destruction work in the end...

... let's hope the result will not be too "pourri" (French word meaning "in a state of decomposition")! With metallic paint, I like the fading of the image depending on the viewing angle... and this goes in line with the elusive rendering that I want to introduce in my future art. The other method I want to use for elusiveness goes in line with that used in my recent bird painting : totally abstracted in a close-up (can't make heads or tails!) but quite figurative from a distance. I hope that these methods will eventually converge! In a way, I'd like to clash the monochromatic and cinematographic with the colorful abstract figurative...

Note to self: "With experimentation, I'm always concerned about the prospect of experimenting to oblivion"!