"The canvas as an open window to the spirit"
I make art to discover, affirm myself and express the spiritual nature of humans.
Each artwork is a fight during which I struggle to project my spirit on the canvas.
I paint my subjects as vessels, pouring all the forces that drive me into them, so that I can make something true. These vessels may evoke familiar shapes, but they’re just an accumulation of paint marks guided by my gesture and by my spirit.
As I guide them, I seek the line between figurative and abstract. It is for me the best way to be with everything I love and say all I have to say.
I also often work with live models, because I find humans beautiful and fascinating.
When I work, I try to reach an artistic truth both personal and universal. It is that truth that allows me to create a coherent and independent work that is able to stand on its own.
Approach
My work is cadenced by moments of spontaneous gesture which I then seek to harmonize. It’s important for me to preserve the raw aspects of these moments without compromising them.
I tend to chose methods and mediums that require me to be vigorous ; I enjoy scrapping, digging, or using my entire body on my canvas. For this I seek big formats and use a lot of paint. I sometimes end up out of breath or feeling muscle cramps from the way I paint.
Technique
I mostly paint using acrylics and oils. Acrylic allows me to maintain control on my drying times whilst covering large surfaces quickly. Oil is for everything else, especially color and trace. I sometimes use pastel and gouache. Pastel is used to give texture and lets me do drawing alongside painting.
I tend to use my mediums raw and pure, avoiding water or other diluents.
When drawing I use sanguine and charcoal for sketches or when I focus on values. I also use Indian ink for gesture and rhythms.
