In Nature by Richard Montpetit
Word from the Artist
IN NATURE By Richard Montpetit
For the first time in my longer than 40-year career, I have put together a solo show exclusively of landscapes. Even more, they are all scenes no further than a few kilometres from our country house (Eastern Township).
My research of light pushed me when I was looking for new subjects to first choose a moment. The moment I have focused on the last few months is the sunrise. With the morning’s first sunrays I began to start seeing compositions in my head. Was it the beauty of the place, the magic of the moment, the open mindset or experimental observation, but the fact is I can’t stop seeing new compositions with infinite possibilities.
In nature each part expresses the whole. Everything is connected. Everything is harmony. It still must be seen. It appears to be the reality itself who hides the reality. That experience delights me, and it is that joy, that peace that I want to express.
It is why at a certain point in the preparation of my exhibition, I decided that the show would be composed of only surrounding landscapes. That appears so clearly to me because painting after painting I was always coming back to that theme. My manner, my technique is growing in function of what I want to express. And more than ever in those recent paintings, I progressed in the elaboration of the image in a global way. The first time putting paint on the canvas, the way the colours react together helped achieve the harmony envisioned. I have precisely chosen details which give a sense to colour’s plans rather abstract. This language permits me to express reality predominately by the light and colour.
It is a journey in which I don’t see the end. Like Pierre Bonnard who wrote at the end of his life “Je commence seulement à comprendre, il faudrait tout recommencer” (I want to be new in front of the canvas and paint in truth of the moment).
– Richard Montpetit