Isabelle Beaubien, a new painter in our gallery

Isabelle Beaubien told us that she has always loved art. And we quickly perceive that she is passionate! In different forms, art has always had a big place in her life . Here is the first part of the interview with the artist.

A lively, energetic and passionate artist.

• When did you develop your interest in art? (What was the trigger? When did you know you would be a painter?)

I think I always love art and art classes at school. I don’t have any particular memories but I started very young taking painting classes. As I was getting older, I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else, I didn’t know what the future hold for me, but nothing else than studying visual art seemed appealing!

• What is your art background? (If you are a self-taught painter, what jobs and / or what steps have you taken to develop your art?)

Sometime when you finish high school you can be a little bit lost and Drummondville, where I grew up, The College didn’t offer any program in art so I studied Human Sciences. I knew that it was not what I was meant to do, so I had to do some painting and drawing classes at University (UQAM) before being accepted in an Undergraduate program in Visual Arts. I then start at Concordia University where I graduated with a Major in Arts and a Minor in Psychology. At that point, I was considering Art Therapy but I took an important decision and I decided to go studied in France for my Master degree. I got accepted at The Villa Arson, which is also called a National Superior Art School with a Contemporary Art Center. That was located in the beautiful French Riviera, in Nice. That experience really opened my eyes and changed my view on my own practice. I also got the chance to see most of the painting in real life that we study in art classes, and that was just so amazing and inspiring.

• What does creation mean to you? (An essential need, a liberation, a way of living, a way of expressing your emotions …)

Obviously, my emotions are a very important part of my work, mainly because the colors that I choose at a particular moment, but I think it goes further than that… it’s also a need. Art is a part of me that I could not live without. There is some period in my life that I have not touch brushes for a very long time, but I would go around and take pictures, I would write, I would work on some scrapbook and visit lots of museum and galleries. Art always has a place in my life, but can come into different shape or form!                                                                                                                               Having said that, today I feel so blessed to be able to wake up every morning and paint. It’s a dream come true!  

• What are your main inspirations? (What feeds your ideas before your first brushstrokes)

I have lots of admiration for the work of Gerard Ritcher, the American Expressionism movement but also for minimal art. I would like people to be able to feel all of these movement when they look at my work.  Keeping all of these in mind, when it’s time to start a new painting, my mood or my feeling at that particular moment will determine which color will be the background. Then I need to think of a great combination of colors. The search for the perfect harmony is what motivate me to carry on!

(The second part of the interview in a few days ….)

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