Setting foot on new grounds!

My last experiment was inconclusive, but in an attempt to make a half-step forward with at least something, I painted a face haphazardly with Chinese black ink on rice paper. I hadn't touched black ink for 7 years! I then pasted the torn rice paper on cotton/linen and added glazes of transparent and semi-transparent colors with acrylics.

The result agreed with me! I see potential for a Zen-like series in preparation for a major exhibition in  the fall of 2015. Collage exercises an irresistible attraction for me, it seems!

Note: I had tried this approach 7-8 years ago but without much success. The idea is to leverage the one gazillion tones of Chinese black ink.

Starting a new one with an idea in mind...

Last week, I leveraged the group studio in ville St-Laurent to advance this new work...

With this one, I would like to throw a monkey wrench into the picture using colored rice paper in my collage technique. My intent is to subjugate my rational mind! ;-)

Dragon lady II... another collage experiment with Chinese rice paper.

Using the group studio in ville St-Laurent, I completed this painting which was started a few weeks back...

 

I would like to have a few paintings under the theme "metamorphosis" at the upcoming 2015 painting exhibition to be held at the community center in ville St-Laurent. This one could fit the bill...

Dragon lady (getting close to final)... A third experimental painting with wire screening!

Today I took some time to advance my last painting project...

Some minor color adjustments and further minute details should do it for me. The use of wire screening is a challenge... but it's worth the effort, in my view!

Dragon ladies in the making... pursuing the wire screening avenue!

This week in the Eastern Townships, I built the foundation for two additional paintings on so called "dragon ladies"...

It will be interesting to see how these women will be transformed into dragons! ;-)

African woman II final ... the idea of building a woman with wire screening and cotton strings!

I finished this project with the idea of oscillating between painting and sculpting...

... the effect is interesting, so it's definitely an avenue I want to pursue...

African woman II... the basis for another deconstruction experiment!

Over the last week or so, I established the foundation for another deconstruction project, but this time using the body...

As usual, I push realism to a certain extent before going for a "free fall" artistically!

"Sea of love"...a wink at street art!

I started this one a couple of weeks ago with the intent of producing a companion painting for a previous painting of mine called "color my world"...

Although I have no intention to use spray paint in the near future, I admire the look of street art immensely. Using my own techniques, I used this experiment to open the door to a stream of works with the esthetics of street art in mind...

American woman (30" X 40") ... Threading (treading) on thin ice with the American flag!

Capitalizing on my stay in the Eastern Townships, I finished this painting in the larger studio, using my usual collage technique, and...

... wanting to add a companion painting to my previous painting "American dream". In the process, I couldn't resist this selfie, in keeping with a recent trend from fellow artists...

... demonstrating their creative rage during the painting process...

Beautiful and plastered... getting a warm feeling with my usual methods!

After a series of experiments, I took a breather with this last painting...

...reverting back to my usual approach on raw canvas. The "decayed" image is always dear to my heart!

Note: In my view, a step back is essential before a leap forward!

A last experiment before getting back to a more normal stream of works!

Over the last few years, I have favoured dark or black backgrounds for my subject matters. I've been thinking for a while about adapting my usual collage technique to pale or white backgrounds...

I see a potential for more calligraphic renditions on pale backgrounds. However, I may need to tone down my colors...

Note: I used a loose piece of canvas for this experiment

Dragon lady - Using Mylar as sole support!

After some collage experiments with Mylar, I decided to go all out with Mylar as painting support for acrylics...

In retrospect, I realize that its portability (in essence, a sheet of polyesther) could be convenient in my live model classes. For my regular painting, I prefer raw canvas which allows me to stain and to paint...

Note: I will keep Mylar in the back burner for now, saving it for special effects

Miss Lilac...

Upon my return from a mini vacation, I finished this painting in a hurry...

... anxious to try my hands at new approaches. Mylar, fairly heavy wire screening and Chinese rice paper were used in my collage for textural effects. I used more fluid paint with this one, i.e., more freedom in paint application (a new trend?). The painting expresses certain of my feelings (wishes?) in the face of recent events in that part of the world....

Note: Without changing the way I paint, I like the dramatic impact that different supports can have on the final look of my paintings. Avoiding boredom is of the essence!

The Avatar... A painting to test Mylar!

I've been wanting to paint on Mylar for a long time. This subject matter was perfect for this technique...

This "space age" look would have been close to impossible to replicate on raw canvas, my usual support.

Update: I decided to implement minor modifications to improve the balance in this composition...

Note: In actuality, this is a collage of Chinese paper and Mylar over canvas

Back from a vacation in the Ogunquit area (US East coast)...

An interesting 5 days in that part of the US, enjoying the beautiful beaches and the art galleries...

I could not miss the Ogunquit museum of American art featuring a private collection of Andrew Wyeth's watercolors and drawings. A John Marin painting was also featured. However, the artist who blew my top off was Richard B. Lethem (www.richardbrownlethem.com/). At 81 years of age, this artist packs a lot of power in his works... combining mystique, bold colors and total freedom of execution. Needless to say, seeing works from an artist like that can be transformative...

Voodoo doll - the evolution of an idea...

My last painting was initiated last week and completed yesterday. I started off with something in mind and ended up with something quite different...

This collage technique produces interesting depth...

I may experiment with other materials (other than canvas) in the future depending on the subject matter.

Galactic blond... the only title that came to mind!

I put the last finishing touches to my painting in progress...

The attention grabbing power of this collage technique is always high from the feedback I've been getting. It would be interesting to try more colors some time in the future...

Note to self: "Personality-wise, I seem to be more attracted to monochromatic color schemes... I fight it from time to time, but always revert back....Can I have it both ways!"

Back to being the "king of rag"!

Yesterday, I decided to go back to a technique I used for a flag series last year : i.e., "canvas over canvas" collage...

For some reason, this technique provides an excitement I don't seem to get from my usual painting style...

I like the sculpturing aspect in particular...

Color my world - final... went for a minimalist approach!

I took some time this morning to finalize my painting in progress...

 In broad daylight after retouching the hair with some carbon black (I wanted to emphasize markings)...

I think, I've achieved the desired effect with a "less is more" type of approach...

Note: The painting needs to be stretched and varnished

"Color my world" - close to final...Exploring mark making on pure figuration...

After some fine tuning, my last painting is finally ready for final steps...

We'll see how this one comes out in the end...

Last week at the Eastern Township studio... Some unfinished business... and some new one!

Last week, I spent three days in the larger Eastern Townships studio...

The larger space is conducive to creativity on a large scale! I still don't know which direction I will take with the one on the right...

Setting the stage for deconstructed bodies...

It's been my intention to tackle the body more often in the near future...

Question is: how can I transition from deconstructed faces to deconstructed bodies...without losing face!

The discipline of live model drawing...

I still attend live model drawing classes on a weekly basis these days...

 

There seems to be more freedom creeping up in my recent drawings! I need to drag some of that into my paintings...

Last deconstruction experiment - final... Zeroing in on a painting strategy!

I leveraged the power of a few fellow artists to refine my painting strategy with this new angle...

 Not losing the facial structure was key... I will call this series "cage",  cage of flesh being the concept in mind...

Note to self: "What about bodies?"

Update: The wording "coming out" seems more dynamic than "cage". I think I will go with that...

Fishing for a new series - step II... a bit of improvisation!

Yesterday, I implemented a first step towards getting back to home studio painting...

... I applied a second coat of paint to my last painting in the making (started two weeks ago in a group painting session), not exactly knowing where this would lead me. I have a specific idea in mind for a new series, and next steps will determine if I can pursue or not in that vein...

Back to painting after 7 weeks of renovation work around the house....

It's been difficult to maintain my usual painting schedule this winter, and the dumpster attests to that...

With regard to painting, today I decided to go fishing for a new series...

... so this is the foundation for a new type of deconstruction that I want to introduce in my future works. For now, everything is quite experimental...

Immersed in renovations... a time-out!

I have no time to paint these days. However, I still manage to attend my weekly group painting sessions in ville St-Laurent. I take advantage of a master artist there to address the human body...

...and the depiction of space. These exercises are bound to have an impact on my future works.

Transitioning... from sketches to painting...

Major renovation work in the house has prevented me from painting seriously over the last few weeks. I only have time for some exploratory work around the female figure...

I would like my figures to align with my faces... and in the past, I have favoured close-ups, so I will probably revert back to that...

Vernissage in ville St-Laurent - a success owing to the organizers!

Last Sunday at the cultural center in ville St-Laurent...

... a great display of contemporary art power in this Montreal suburb! Numerous artists are currently exhibiting (including yours truly). The exhibition is on until March 9th.

Painting exhibition in ville St-Laurent...

The poster came out last week...

... and luckily, it featured two of my paintings!

In gear for two group exhibitions in Montreal...

I spent the greater part of the week prepping 6 paintings for two group exhibitions in the Montreal area (ville St-Laurent and Pierrefonds)...

In responding to the "smaller painting" criterion imposed by the Pierrefonds group, I decided to smother one of my experiments in epoxy...

I thank the two cultural centers involved for their support for artists...

Delivering a commission work...

Over the Holiday Season, I spent some time fine tuning the commission work I had started in the larger Eastern Townships studio. The painting was delivered yesterday to an Indian company which recently opened an office in Montreal...

It's always rewarding to get positive feedback from satisfied customers! The painting seems to have hit home with its symbolism from India...