Claire Desjardins | Studioworx

Bright As Quiet

Claire — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:46:05 +0000

“This space is quiet, and needs to be filled with people, noise”. And so started my brightly coloured painting, in an otherwise silent artist residence, in a sleepy town in northern Vermont. It feels like I’m surrounded by nuns and monks, always hushed, always rushing past me, in the hallway, whispered helloes over the shuffle of hurried feet.

Bright As Quiet - a painting by Claire Desjardins.

Do It Anyway! – A rebel painting

Claire — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:36:41 +0000

There’s a delicious freedom found, when one stops worrying about what others think. Worried concerns expressed in order to save the unsuspecting, can hinder progress and extinguish the spark… So, just go for it, and don’t look back. You’ll get so much more done, and the results will be fresher!

Do It Anyway - Original acrylic painting on canvas by Claire Desjardins.

On Time - Original acrylic painting on canvas by Claire Desjardins.

Supersize: painting details

Claire — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:18:06 +0000

My painting, “Supersize“, was a labour of love, me hours upon intensive hours to create. I had the luxury of time on my side, as I spent the entire month of February in residency at the artist retreat, Vermont Studio Center, along with about 50 or so other artists, who we all there, like me, to squeeze out the juices of their various forms of creativity. Just being there made me want to push my creative limits: my studio was located on a picturesque bend in the river that winds its way through the small, New England village. Our meals were prepared for us, three times a day (fabulous organic meals, locally sourced, whenever possible). Our sole concern, as artists, was to produce. Soft white snow made the setting perfect for relaxing, and getting focussed. And so, the fruits of my labour evolved, without distraction.

Working on such a large piece was most liberating, though at times, it became demanding, both physically and mentally. I laboured over it from early morning until late at night (wee hours of the morning), starting with it on the wall, where I painted broad brush strokes, and put in some background colour. Then, as the painting evolved, I moved it to the floor, where I poured each drop, saturated puddle by puddle, one at a time, layer upon layer, to create a fizzy sensation for the viewer, when standing in front of the work. I used thick blends of mostly pure colours, mixed with various polymer mediums, in order to create a plastic feeling, and one that makes you want to run your hand over the smoothe lumps and bumps that it caused across the giant sheet of canvas. Thick texture is very important to me, as is the shininess, and of course, the overall massive size.

Detail 1: large acrylic painting, Supersize, by Claire Desjardins.

Detail 2: large acrylic painting, Supersize, by Claire Desjardins.

Detail 3: large acrylic painting, Supersize, by Claire Desjardins.

Detail 4: large acrylic painting, Supersize, by Claire Desjardins.

Detail 5: large acrylic painting, Supersize, by Claire Desjardins.

Later Today: work on wood panel

Claire — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:20:14 +0000

I’m a practiced procrastinator, but not a terrible one. I will put off to later on, what I don’t wish to do right at this moment. Life generously offers me a tantalizing selection of distractions to ensure that I don’t break this habit. One example, is doing my taxes. I know they must get done, but I won’t touch them until the last minute, lest I miss out on delighting my senses with painting, and perhaps some dark chocolate… Or perhaps a brisk walk on a lovely, sunny day?

My painting, Later Today is 48 inches wide and 60 inches tall.

Most of this painting was worked on while in an artist residency, at the Vermont Studio Center, in Johnson Vermont. I was inspired by the beauty of the place, and the nostalgia of having spent much of my childhood in a nearby village… Beautiful Vermont!

Evolution of a painting

Claire — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:41:54 +0000

I’m now midway through an artist residency, at the Vermont Studio Center, located in the sleepy little town of Johnson, Vermont. Johnson is a charming New England village, situated on the winding banks of the Lamoille River.

Since I have been here, my main project has been to work on a very large painting that I have titled “Supersize“. It’s name reflects its actual size: twelve feet long, and 6 feet tall, and is a reference to mass consumption (ex: fast-food restaurants). I’ve never worked on anything quite this big before, and so I put all my energy into it, often working from 7 in the morning, until late at night (sometimes until 1 in the morning). Below, are photos of its evolution.

Big, blank canvas, layed out on the floor, so that I could cut it.

Started something: a somewhat random guide to where I'd like to go.

I blocked out colour spaces, and moved canvas from the wall, to the floor.

Carefully arranged spots, meted out, one by one.

After many long hours, I finished the piece. I named it Supersize.

Blue Crush

Claire — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:39:27 +0000

Heart flutters in anticipation: a date to be celebrated. I want it so much, but you are angry. I hear the words: it might not work out. My mouth feels dry, my eyes sting, I ache. Tears spill out defiantly. Your honest tongue slices through the candlelit room, and straight into me. I wish I could be anyone else.

Blue Crush - painting by Claire Desjardins - Acrylics on canvas.

When You Said That – A reaction to words spoken.

Claire — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:57:16 +0000

How easily words can rock a fragile world. They can bruise the soul, or they can lift it. The tone, a glance, or even just a breath, taken right before or just after the words spill out, fill the awkward space around us.

When You Said That - Abstract acrylic painting by Claire Desjardins

Thank you: 12,000 painting fans!

Claire — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 18:03:15 +0000

Time has whipped by since I started my Facebook fan page, on June 29, 2010. My entire life has changed, since then: at that time, I was working 4 days per week as a graphic artist, coming home to paint on weekends. In August, 2011, the corporate job ended, and I launched myself, full on, into my painting career. Since that time, I’ve been represented by Muse Gallery in Toronto, Saatchi Online has been selling my work to collectors online, as well. Not to be forgotten: Anthropologie, the US retail chain bought a number of pieces of my art, and even reproduced some pieces on various pieces of merchandise (rugs, bags, and a bedding collection). It’s been an exciting year for me. A couple of months ago, I signed a little contract with Warner Brothers too, as they will be using my art in one of their upcoming feature films, A Winters Tale (to be released in 2013). It stars Russell Crowe, Will Smith, Matt Bomer and Colin Farrell, among other big Hollywood names. This morning, my Facebook fan page reached a lofty 12,000 fans.

Whew! I’m out of breath, and delighted… Thank you!

-Claire.

12,000 Facebook Fans of my paintings... Thank you!

Don’t Judge Me

Claire — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 19:06:36 +0000

Words peck, like sharp beaks, through my thin skin. I feel each jab, each poke, all the while, pretending not to. I put on a brave face and continue what I was doing, and eventually, the pecking stops, and turns into a swirl of giggles and laughter. I join in. It is funny, actually. I breathe easily again, and reflect upon how sensitive I can be, at times.

Don't Judge Me - Painting by Claire Desjardins. 30 inches by 30 inches, acrylics on canvas.

26 Minutes – a series of unexpected events

Claire — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:54:07 +0000

In everyone’s lives there are sporadic periods of intense and uncommon energy, where occurrences and/or people intersect strangely and then diverge again, leaving vivid memories, residual emotions, and a different sensibility in their wake.

Dinner Party - 20 in. x 20 in. - mixed media on canvas.

26 Minutes - 60 in. x 48 in. - acrylics on canvas.

Hot Head - 30 in. x 30 in. - acrylics on canvas.