Searching for The Tree of Life

Searching for The Tree of Life

Searching The Tree of Life

Artist:       Claude Chapdelaine

Title:        The Tree of Life

Year:        1984

Medium:  Latex markers 

Size:         8"x11" pink colouring paper

Price:       TBD

I was 22 at the time I did this auto portrait with small fine water based markers on pink coloured paper.  I was motivated to do this drawing a few days after I had heard a man's voice in one of my dreams instructing me that I needed to go and find my tree of life.  

As the central figure, I position my face looking towards the right - to face the future.  

In the middle of the ordinary landscape, I put in a leafless majestic tree that stands three times higher above the tree lines.  It looks symmetrical and a little bit like a creature ready to pounce towards the sun with its claws.  

  

Thirty years have gone by and I am still wondering if I found the right Tree.

Wind Blown Flowers and Stormy Skies

Wind Blown Flowers and Stormy Skies

Artist:       Claude Chapdelaine
Title:        Wind Blown Flowers and Stormy Skies
Year:        2014
Medium:  Acrylic
Size:         40"x36"canvas
Price:       TBD

I started this painting a little more than five years ago, a little bit at a time.   I had to put it aside a few times as I just couldn't seem to move forward.  I had put in a dark blue angry sky as the background and a sorry looking bunch of flowers at the bottom being walloped by heavy winds.  The motivation to finish it was lacking.

My motivation changed after having spent the last two weeks October 2013 in Paris France. I went there on my own with the objective of visiting as many museums and art galleries as possible (specially the Louvre, Quai D'Orsay and the Pompidou).  Once inside, I spent quite a bit of time looking closely at many of the fine works of art (paintings and sculptures) trying to see and understand the techniques the masters used to bring alive their works.  The two week experience gave me quite a confidence boost.

When I got back home, I worked of smaller paintings before I decided to tackle this unfinished piece again.  This time there were no inner battles of the mind or a conflicted muse.  The imagery that needed to be put to canvas came together quite naturally.  I loved the way I felt when I was painting the leaves of grass, or the colourful movement in the sky.  I felt I made a serious breakthrough in expressing my vision through art.   

Finding the Inner Artist

Finding the Inner Artist

I grew up in a small town named Longlac (now part of Greenstone) in Northern Ontario.  There wasn't much to do to keep occupied so apart from running through the forest, I drew quite a bit in order to past the time.  I grew up around trees, forests, rivers and lakes. These elements have been quite present in the majority of my work as an artist.

I was in Grade 1 when I did this watercolour painting of a sad looking tree that is losing its leaves and a person standing by with no hands.  Up to this day, I have been quite unsuccessful in drawing or painting hands.

  

The following four oil paintings were done when I was 13 years old.  I was taking a summer painting class at the local Public school.  I was the only teen in the class with the least experience.  It was a great experience being part of a group of people who shared the same interest.  Although they weren't very good paintings, my parents had kept them.  Now that I am in my 50's, I look at them and see the progress I have made over the last few decades.

The following newspaper drawings were done as part of my high school art assignments.  Our arts teacher's name was Mr. Arts and everyone wanted to be in his classes because he was so good at motivating students to be the best they could be.  I loved all his classes.

Male Portraits and Study Sketches

Voltaire, French Philosopher

10x10 Acrylic - 2005

Then followed the same year with the cowboy with the red hat which was inspired from a black and white photograph.

The Red Hat

16x20 Acrylic - 2005

Dit the following young man, trying a different angle.  I have a long way to go to make the face look more human and less caricatured.

Young Man with Blue Tee-Shirt

20x24 Acrylic - 2005

Young Man with Green Shirt

14x18 Acrylic - 2005

This blond haired dude was inspired by a model in a magazine.  I added the eye patch.

Flaunting His Sensuality - Acrylic 2005 

The Time Traveller

L'Etre Ému (The Emotional One) - Ink on bristol board 1985

Quick sketch of male upper body and face.

Le Mourant (The One Who Is Dying) - pencil sketch.
This drawing eventually became a muse for another ink drawing (not yet posted)

Ink drawing of main character for a another piece (not yet posted)

Sketch of Italian Nobleman - inspired by image in a book.

Sketch of Italian Nobleman with Beard - inspired by image in a book.

Sketch portrait of Rembrandt - One of my favourite artist.  Inspired by image in a book.

French Canadian Hunter - Winter Scene

St. Francis of Assisi - Inspire by image in a book

Sketch of my college teacher - Reynald Umbriaco. 

Sketch of Roman Soldier riding his Horse - from a photo of the statue in a book.

Roman Noble Riding his Horse

Original drawing of French Canadian Hunter
- Pencil exercise prior to transferring to sketching with ink on bristol board

My Inner Warrior - Crayon

Naked Male with Sword - Acrylic
 This is a real dud - couldn't bring myself to go beyond this point.

Quick pencil sketch.

Self portrait - Pastel