Feel

Our dictionary has more than 100 words referring to emotions. And yet, we know and use only a few of these words.

We are used to saying "I feel good" or "I feel bad". "I feel happy" or "I feel sad." And maybe a little more.

But we don't really allow ourselves to explore and feel a wider spectrum of emotions, and in doing so, we greatly limit the way we experience life itself, which becomes somewhat empty.

With this series, part of the exhibition “How do I feel today? But Really” featuring 21 new paintings that each evoke a specific emotion, I challenge the way we conceive, feel and express our emotions, in order to create a deeper connection with ourselves and a deeper way of experience life.

The process starts with myself feeling an emotion and asking myself what emotion is that. I don't just take for granted my first reaction "Oh, I feel happy today", I dig a little bit deeper and try to give a name to the emotion, or at least to experience it more profoundly.

Once I'm clear on the emotion, I look for 3-4 images that inspire me the same feeling.

Then I go in the studio and do a sketch of the portrait first. I then throw some color on it, which I mix and expand using an hairdryer.

Finally, I allow my emotions to dictate the way I paint the portrait, until I feel no more emotions. At that point, I know the work is complete.

I always sign the work the day after, but once the emotion is over, I never go back to the painting. Not even if there are things I can improve. I leave those imperfections as part of the way I've experienced the emotion, I feel it more real that way.