"Nymph"... Going back to bodies with my usual collage technique!

After a number of experiments with Chinese paper, I decided to revert back to my usual "canvas over canvas" collage technique dragging the colors that I saw in Cuba...

I ended up with a breakthrough painting that points to possibilities in the area of semi-abstracted figuration. After close to 2 years of live model drawing, I suddenly feel the urge to go free style with no reference material...

Note: this painting was a composite of 3 unrelated images...

"Tourbillon" - taking another slant on the wild side!

I finished the previous painting with my usual tri-dimensional deconstruction technique...

The previous version was fine, however, something in me wants to pursue a more visceral approach. The balancing act between the two approaches is exciting to me!

P.S. Although I've tried different deconstruction approaches over the last few years, I seem to be coming back to this one... so why fight it!

Emerging woman II... looking for a stream of smaller works.

Piggybacking on the previous painting, I laid the foundation for a stream of smaller works on partially immersed faces, in preparation for an exhibition in early November of this year...

My usual tri-dimensional collage technique will be used... to throw a monkey wrench into the picture!

Back from Cuba... towards a new series!

A one week hiatus in Cuba was a  must in the context of a long winter that doesn't seem to wanna quit any time soon...

Upon my return, I laid the foundation for a new series of "women faces emerging from water"...

Time to get the old epoxy varnishing kit out of the closet!

Purple passion - To finish or not to finish... that is the question!

Today I completed a collage painting to erase somehow my last half failure...

Because of the Facebook response that I got from the first pass, it is tempting to ask the question: between the two versions, where is the truth? The face being eclipsed by the material (torn canvas) or the face eclipsing the material? Where is the freedom? Will the real me stand up once and for all?

Prometheus - the human project III... I gave a go to a third one for that series!

Using my process for this series, I attempted a third painting...

... and again, very little Chinese black ink was retained at the final stage. For one thing, bodies are more complex than faces, and finding the path to simplification with the black ink is crucial. I'm after that old decayed photograph look...

Note: At some point in time, I felt compelled to let go with some spontaneous destructive color passages to support what I was trying to convey.

The face of Africa - Cultivating the "torn to shreds" look!

In an attempt to have a smaller painting ( 24" X 30" is largest format accepted) for the upcoming Montreal-wide artist contest in Pierrefonds, I completed this one using my recent approach to deconstruction...

Again, "Chinese black ink and acrylics on torn rice paper glued on canvas" agree with me. It would be interesting to go much more abstract with the Chinese black ink, losing a greater part of the figurative portion...