#6 – Oser l’amour
March 2015
Acrylic on canvas (1m x 1m)
I experimented a lot of new techniques with this particular painting and totally changed the look and feel of it in one swift, energetic painting session with a large foam brush on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
I remember vividly looking at the first layers, a fairly structured composition in pink, green, with white and black markings, finding it a bit “boring” or somewhat “awkward” to my taste. I started making small changes in green and orange, adding some light blue, trying to feel where this was taking me.
Then, suddenly, I took the new bottle of phtalo blue that I had just purchased, some titanium white and cadmium red, and here I was, with the largest foam brush I own in my hand, totally letting go of what was, what had been, dancing the paint on the canvas, almost in a trance.
Feeling the flow, similar to the waves or ondulations of the brush, adding another smaller brush to the dance, turning the painting several times to find itself, its way up, its balance. And then, a fireworks of red, blue and silver followed.
I stood back, and there was a vibrant painting, bold and clear in front of me, shouting loudly: here I am. Daring. “Oser” means “to dare” in French. I felt such a joy painting it, like falling in love head over heels… So the title was born: Oser l’amour or “Dare to love”.
This painting has found a home at my dear friend’s Hélène. It was love at first sight between Hélène and this painting and I could literally sense the energy moving between the canvas and Hélène when they met each other… I think that it was truly the first time that I felt such a strong connection between a canvas and their future owner! Such a privilege to witness this. I am so happy to be able to say that since then, I’ve felt that kind of connection again and again with people dear to my heart.
Oser l’amour!
*** Painting in private collection ***