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Louise
Bloom received me in her studio, beaming with
creative juices and an outpour of joy in her craft. She now does what
she always wanted to do, paint masterfully! Despite her claim that she
needs at least another two years to attain the title of a Master
Painter, I was rather impressed and humbled by her achievements. Some
of the paintings shown below are still unfinished, yet one can see that
they are superbly executed. Louise's concern, feelings and
understanding of human nature and the love that transpires from her
figurative creations are inimitable.
Louise's
has Fine Arts degree from Sir George Williams University
(Major in Print-making.) When her
teacher (at the Montreal Fine Arts Museum) saw her first paintings
(Portraits of Picasso, at age 16)
- he said "You know that you are a painter?!"
She knew! She enrolled for night classes at Sir George Williams
University, and worked daytime to pay her tuition. Her description of
her filing-clerical job, in a vault, using a wheeled chair for moving
around, and the metal Accu-fasteners that injured her fingers, is quite
lively and made me laugh.
Louise
does numerous live-model drawings and paintings, and has been teaching,
drawing, painting and print-making for many years.
While
in her studio, I had a sneak preview of her
work-in-progress collection, entitled "Monuments". This is a
series of paintings depicting family members and close friends, some of
whom are no longer with us. Louise is “performing a ritual” of
paying tribute to those who have touched her life.
Louise
has always considered herself a "dedicated educator". However, she is
also an avid student, always striving to improve and reach the summit.
She is now concentrating on a method of painting in the old, "Master
Painter" technique, using old photos. The new technique that Louise is
learning requires a complete transformation of her work process.
The
canvas is divided into a grid of squares, and then painted part by
part. A Master Painter uses a special arm support (rod) with soft
leather at the end for holding against the canvas, which was covered
with a medium/glaze, so as not to disturb the previous layers. Brush
strokes are applied, while holding the brush in a particular
counter-manner. This is all done with fairly large-sized brushes. The
colour scheme is foggy yet clear (using
raw-umber*,
white, and ultramarine blue, for a colder tone,)
giving the paintings an aura of old faded photographs, rendering the
images even further nostalgic.
Some of
these paintings are “life-size”. Louise has succeeded in extracting,
and enhancing facial expressions and body language, to a level that the
old photographs she works with, do not reach.
The
technique now used by Louise allows her to become what she always wanted
to be... a
Master
Painter!
If you wish to see
more of Louise's work, visit
http://www.earthartgallery.com
and
http://www.routedesarts.ca
Pictures taken August 14th, 2004 at the
Vernissage.
