Breaking Away from Detailed Geometric Paintings

MONTREAL IN FEBRUARY
8x8in., acrylic on board
2023

As an artist, I know the value of experimentation. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and trying new things can lead to exciting discoveries and breakthroughs in your art. This is why I recently decided to challenge myself by breaking away from my detailed geometric painting style and trying a more loose approach.

My detailed geometric paintings are notoriously time-consuming, with no real shortcuts. In 2018, I reached a new level of detailing with my painting 'Paris at Midnight.' While I was proud of the finished work, I felt that my style was becoming too rigid and wanted to break away from it.

For my latest experiment, a painting of Montreal, I decided to give myself only an hour to see what I could produce if I worked quickly and didn't treat the surface or map too preciously. I tried not to get bogged down in the details and instead focused on the bigger picture - a snowy Montreal. I also used oil pastels for the line work and the colour palette is a pastel nod to the city’s NHL hockey team.