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ethereal ambiance. “They’re right in front of you,
but they’re also from another world...I wanted to
create a show that’s all about that idea of dreaming,
being off in another world and experiencing this
surreal moment.”
Paintings like Drawing Lines, Roller Coaster and
Open And Closed are grounded in some sense of
reality, but appear subtly warped and otherworldly.
The women in each piece hold themselves with a
sense of ease, their gazes focused upon something
we, the viewer, cannot see. Aspects of their
form—an outstretched arm or long hair across the
floor—create beautiful, elongated lines within the
compositions, and where they lead is a mystery
waiting to be uncovered.
“The gallery is always looking for what we
haven’t seen before. We search for artists who are
really charting their own paths and J. Louis is one
of those painters,” says Steven Diamant, president
of Arcadia Contemporary. “Anatomy, perspective
and all of the other ‘fundamentals’ are obviously
addressed in his works, but color, design and a
tactile impact play equally important roles in his
paintings. The old line of ‘you need to see these
in person’ really holds true for his paintings and
unless you do, you’re partly missing out on their
greatness.”
The process of creating Louis’ delicate
dreamscapes is lengthy but worth the effort. He
begins with thumbnail sketches that map out the
mood he’s going for, then sets up a photo shoot
with his models, often friends or people he knows
can help capture the mood he’s envisioned, and
takes reference images. For this particular body
of work, Louis says he even hired a makeup
artist, hair stylist and lighting assistant. After a
shoot is finished, he lets the photos sit for a few
days without reviewing them, returning to them
later with fresher eyes, more removed from the
heightened emotions or biases formed during the
initial shoot. After that, the images undergo what
Louis says is a great deal of digital editing until
they feel right. The whole production is a jumping
off point for when he picks up his paintbrush.
“I have always drawn, even at age 4...and
3
Veil, oil on linen cradled
panel, 13 x 6" (33 x 15 cm)
4
Weightless In A Heavy Space,
oil on linen cradled panel,
65 x 50" (165 x 127 cm)43