Less colour, more reality

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I am a landscape painter. I paint with oil on hardboard and I use a scratching technique. My works are painted in a variation of greys. ​​​​In my journey as a painter, I've come to realize that colour, while a powerful tool, is not indispensable for conveying the experience of reality. I found that removing colour can enable viewers to experience the landscape at a more profound level.

 

I have observed that our perception, particularly through sight, tends to focus on select elements, often favouring high contrast and fine details. Recognizing this, I've developed a method that hinges on these key components: high contrast, intricate detail, and the interplay of light and shadow. ​My process begins with a white hardboard, onto which I apply a coat of black paint. From this darkened canvas, I gradually reveal the image by lifting the black pigment, allowing light to emerge.  This technique imbues the resulting work with a particular luminosity, as if light itself emanates from within the painting. It also affords me the ability to craft precise details and stark contrasts, essential elements in the process of perception.

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​I predominantly work from imagination, particularly when focusing on landscapes. Rather than rigidly steering the painting towards a predetermined outcome, I maintain a fluid approach. While I possess a general vision of the desired outcome, the execution remains flexible, guided by the emergence of elements on the canvas.  I try to avoid excessive control. Often the painting veers into unexpected directions before settling into its final form.

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Space and belonging

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Several of my paintings depict forests, mountains or ocean yet their true subject is space. These paintings invite viewers to immerse themselves in the spaces they create, transcending the typical dualistic perception of reality where a subject observes an object. I hope my painting will encourage viewers to let go, to surrender into the expansiveness of the  space, to both the immediacy of what lies close and the vastness of what lies beyond, and to reconnect. This reconnection between ourselves and the world should bring to the viewer a sense of stillness and belonging.

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​​​You will find below a number of small videos in which I explain why and how I paint. In some videos, I demonstrate practical examples of the scratching technique I use in my paintings.   Follow my instagram to for update and tips on technique.