The Daily Muse: An exclusive interview with Louise Lamirande, Mixed Media / Digital Artist

Louise Lamirande is a digital painter and mixed media artist living near Montreal. Before starting to paint she quiets her mind and goes deep inside into a sacred space where creativity flows naturally in an intuitive way. Then she taps into that infinite source of inspiration to create abstract paintings. Even if Louise uses the modern and innovative tools offered by digital media to express that creative energy and share it through her artwork, she also likes to explore and experiment with traditional media like watercolor, ink and acrylic. Louise’s vibrant abstract paintings are stepping stones toward self-healing spiritual growth and self-development. To paint brings joy and well being in her life and she hopes you will feel it and enjoy her artwork.

To learn more about Louise or to see an even more of her work, visit her website below:

LOUISE LAMIRANDE WEBSITE

…and now for our interview with Louise

How would you describe your art?

I would describe my work as abstract and semi-abstract colorful paintings created intuitively and based on experimentation. The pleasure generated by the creative process and a perpetual quest to move forward and evolve. For the viewers, they have an opportunity to travel within themselves and get in touch with their imaginary world and their own inner vision.

How long have you been an artist and how did you become an artist?

I have always been creative, but I have considered myself a professional artist since 2013. In the 80s, I studied art for a year, followed by  professional training in costume and set design for theater. Following a very difficult start in my career in this field, I quit the art world to devote myself to alternative medicine and personal development for over 20 years. It was not until 2011 that I gradually returned to my old friend, painting.

What is your favorite medium and why?

In my art practice, I use several traditional mediums as watercolor, gouache, ink and acrylic, but the medium which I prefer is digital. This medium, which I find fascinating, allows me more creative freedom, pushes me to take risks and experiment more than traditional mediums, helping me to evolve as an artist, while having a safety net, the Back button.  The possibilities offered by the digital medium are immense and transcend the physical limits of traditional mediums.

On the other hand, I have to admit that I miss the tactile aspect and that is why I also create mixed media paintings.

 Pick one work of art from your portfolio and tell us the story behind it. Why does this piece have meaning to you? What steps did you take to create the piece?

As most of my artwork, this digital painting was intuitively created, without sketch or mental image. I always begin a painting by calming my mind and put myself in a state of no expectation and let go.

I start the painting process with a bare canvas of my computer screen and intuitively put big spots of colors on it with my graphic tablet and a stylus as I would do with a color palette and a paintbrush on a real canvas. Then, I let myself be guided and inspired by the colors and the inner dialogue established between me and the painting until reaching a complete sensory satisfaction.

Tell us about one medium, technique or style that you would like to try working with (that you have not tried before) and why you would like to try this.

In the future, I would like to try encaustic. I like the translucency of this medium and the effects created by wax buildup. In my mind, I play with the idea to combine my digital painting printed on paper with layers of encaustic medium and inlayed textured materials.

How do you make time for art?

When I came back to paint in 2011, I felt guilty for the time I was painting when I should have done something else but gradually, with the support of my family, I have come to assert myself as a professional artist and now I am at peace with myself and happier.

As a professional artist, my life is centered on art, this includes not only painting, but also to share my work and my findings on my blogs (in English and in French), do research, learn new techniques, do paper work and more. I paint each week, but not as much as I would like.

If you could spend 24 hours with one artist, living or historical, who would you want to spend the day with and why? What would the two of you do?

Honestly, I would prefer to spend a few hours with various artists instead of 24 hours with only one. Some artist could show me the techniques which they use whereas the others would teach me tricks of the trade.
But if I really had 24 hrs to spend with only one person, it would probably be a spiritual teacher and master to teach me detachment, letting go and show me to strengthen my connection with the Source to all inspiration.

Do you have any tips or advice for aspiring artists?

Do not be discouraged by failure, a negative review or lack of support from those around you. Do not suppress the creative flame in you; it can only result in more suffering. I know something about that. Ask for help if necessary, read a book like The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and create anyway!