I engaged in painting in order to disconnect from life's stresses, I needed a vehicule to let it all out, to scream, cry, laugh, feel, and understand the emotions behind it all. Maybe it could be classified as art therapy. This painting journey started with dreams, series of dreams filled with colour flashes, like a spectrum of paints thrown on a wall, I felt that my brain was invaded by colours. These dreams went away once I started to transfer these colours on canvas.
I would get home from work and sit at my easel and paint the night away, I burned a few dinners in the process, went to sleep late and spent my days waiting to get home and get back to my brushes.
My first paintings were really an outlet, everything came from my gut since I had no real training. This was an experimental phase, a creative exercise. I would get to bed exausted but energized at the same time, all I could think about was my next move, ideas were overflowing, I was obsessed.
After a year of painting my gut away, I decided to sign up for a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts; the first couple of years taught me that I knew absolutely nothing about the art world and its history. It was really stimulating to discover this new world. However, the more I learned the less I painted, my creative streak came to an halt.
After 4 years in Fine Arts, I have lost the driving force behind my paintings. Doubt and frustration took over. I guess the frustration was the hardest, because when I was engaged in painting nothing else mattered; I now understand why a lot of the great painters spent a lot of time alone. Relationships, obligations and work are time consuming. Is it possible to balance your passion with family, friends and work?
After 6 years of painting, I haven't found a particular style or signature. Just when I think that I may have found a particular direction, new ideas emerge and send me on to an other path.
So, I considered what I did best and where I felt more in my element, and this is when I paint nature, forests, trees, lots of trees. However, I do enjoy the freedom of abstraction, the evolution of an idea, how it shapes itself on canvas. Art is a challenge, making art is a quest demanding constant adjustment and realignement.
It is truly a journey of the soul.
About Me
- Carole Gagné
- Late bloomer, it took me most of my life to discover myself and what makes me come alive. As a child I used to be very creative and loved to draw and build cities out of cardboard. I studied commercial art and then started a family and put that part of me aside for many years. It is only recently, about 6 years ago that I awaken the artist in me. Strangely enough, it was through my daughter, I wanted for us to spend quality time toghether so I signed us up for a pastel workshop. After a couple of hours she was bored and I was in trance. My dreams were filled with colours and they were crying to get out. It is never too late to be your true self.
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