Life

is

Art

Self-taught in most of my endeavours through life, I’m driven by a boundless curiosity to understand the physical and spiritual reality I exist in.

Three words define and measure my verve: reading, writing and conceptualizing. From a young age, ideas, pencils and paper merged to express my imagination. And books, my doors to new worlds. My love of reading led me to question myself, deepen my knowledge and reflect.Books, music and the finest works became inspirational sources of animating and freeing my mind, teaching me critical thinking and being authentic; for authenticity is born of self-awareness. 

My awareness truly awakened when I was 10 and travelling by train to Montréal from Toronto with my mother, twin brother and baby sister. Of the four facing seats, we occupied three of them. As the train filled up with passengers, an elegant lady asked if she could sit in our section, which happened to be next to me. She introduced herself as a professor and greeted us all. The conversation slowly narrowed itself to herself and me. At a certain point, she asked my mother if she could invite me to the lunch car. Mom looked at me and shrugged while I was jumping for a big yes. So off we went. I won’t pretend to remember most of our table talk, but I do recall her telling me that she saw a twinkle in my eyes that hid a well of imagination and that my curious and observing eyes would lead the way (I’m paraphrasing here to capture the essence of what she had said). A memory I cherish deeply for whom I’ve become. 

I was 14 when I bought, through mail order, a drafting course kit that promised me the skills of a draftsman. I learned to read plans, use the tools of the trade and the importance of being meticulous and thoughtful. 

Many years passed before I actually became a draftsman working for the big engineering firms of Montréal while studying commercial photography at Dawson. But, in time, drafting lacked the creative aspect that could feed my curiosity and passion for the aesthetic. After my flirt with photography and learning the art of composition, graphic design and illustration were the arts I would devote myself to professionally for over four decades. Writing has also become a means of expressing myself and has a symbiotic link to my visual art. 

To further nourish my curiosity and imagination, I travelled in search of new experiences, patterns, palettes, images and designs. Through my trips abroad, I discovered the urban fabric of major cosmopolitan cities, with their signature skylines, flashing neon sign scapes, cuisines and cultures as well as exotic and legendary places that were the stages of epic stories. I’ve been to Hong Kong, China’s mainland, Paris, the French and Swiss alps, New York’s 80’s decadence to a global city, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Boca Raton, Miami, Havana, Saint Martin, Colombia, Mexico, Gaspesian and maritime regions, northern Québec. I was born in Toronto but have lived my adult life as a Montréaler, working as a draftsman, photographer, designer and entrepreneur. Now I dedicate myself to my art and the exhibitions I’m planning. 

As a freelance designer, I tend to Montauk Sofa’s prestigious branding, including their website, double-page print ads that run in prestigious design magazines as well as all of their graphic design and printing needs. 

As a professional artist, I’ve amassed an extensive collection of digital artworks all done by hand while avoiding any use of AI effects and virtual image generations. I work on the computer as I do on a drawing pad. My fingers and eyes do all the work. I rely on my natural intelligence rather than artificial intelligence. My works also include acrylic paintings, linoleum cutouts for future limited edition printing and sculptures to be designed and produced. My art caters to a sophisticated niche passionate about my work, which motivates me to create personal works that connect and communicate. 

As for change in today’s society, the more we exhort change, the more we seem the same. Relying on human nature is at one’s peril. Or as Bruce Cockburn sang in 1983, “The trouble with normal is it always gets worse.“ 

Tout ce vécu, ces voyages, rencontres, souvenirs et images gravés dans les recoins de mon imaginaire se conjuguent par moments inspirés pour en créer des œuvres à la fois intimes et graphiques dans leur exclamation!

Toutes ces expériences se conjuguent également vers un croisement de chemins qui m’a enfin guidé vers une exploration personnelle entre moi et ma muse. Et comme dans toutes les sphères de l’art, mon but ultime : de vous toucher, de connecter.  

Avec une justesse des plus habiles, l’artiste touche l’âme avec sa palette de couleurs, jouant à sa guise la gamme de fréquences qui font vibrer l’âme.