The shed by Yaël Legris in Montreal

I am a figurative artist who is drawn to exploring portraiture mainly through the use of acrylic paint. My approach to art is heavily influenced by Surrealism, notably by Salvador Dali, and also by the Northern Renaissance painter Hieronymus Bosch. I focus on exploring what is rooted in the unconscious and aspire to unravel the psyche. Most importantly, it is crucial that creative freedom, whether in style or technique, be the heart and soul of my practice. Although there are not always evident aesthetic similarities between my artworks, they are interconnected by recurring themes and subject matter. I choose to work primarily with acrylic paint because it has a lot to offer and I am at ease with the manipulation of this medium. Consequently, that allows me to focus on the imagery, to work quickly and to experiment with form, style, palette or texture. My work, like my mind, is permeated with thoughts, memories, visions, emotions and dreams. As someone who understands, processes and learns best through the use of imagery, I find myself yearning to give a visual form to what is incorporeal. The psyche, as I experience it, is a force of nature: it is uncontrollable. However, similarly to the wind, though it is not seen, it can be felt. The complex task of giving shape to this intangible force that lies within is what drives my artistic mission.