The women in the paintings of J Louis live in their own space, meticulously rendered and centered in themselves in a world not of their own making. The other reality of his paintings is the paint—brushed, rolled and scraped on the canvas to create painterly worlds that the figures command.
Sunrise, oil on canvas, 23 x 25"
A solo exhibition of his work opens on September 15 at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, with a reception from 6 to 8:30 p.m., and remains on view through October 9.
For these paintings, he says, “Before I knew what I was going to paint, I gave all the canvases a wash of color. In Sunrise, for instance, I painted the canvas a vibrant yellow.”
Umbrella, oil on canvas, 19 x 19"
In Sunrise,the figure seems to gaze not so much at, but through the viewer, resting on a sea of yellow-ochre-orange, her flaming hair becoming part of the surrounding color. The eye wanders around the vast and varied color field but returns to the inscrutable eyes. Louis’ intention is to allow the viewer his or her own interpretation, but to have that be an active rather than a passive connection. “The figures acknowledge the viewer more than their just being seen,” he explains. “They are seeing you. I love how people can interpret a painting differently. I like that people develop their own unique relationship with a work of art. All of it is correct and wonderful.”
Green, oil on canvas, 28 x 19"
His point of view is from below the figure, causing the viewer to look up at the figures who are, he says, “in positions of power and self-awareness.”
The strength and character of the subjects of his paintings reflect the dynamic intensity of the women in his life, especially his mother and his wife. He photographs the live models and manipulates the photos to express more of the vitality of the sitters. The sitting is a collaboration between model and artist—“to see what we can create together,” he says, “I try to find models who can help me share the message I’m trying to convey. I let the models do whatever they want. Most of the women are professional models and are comfortable with the camera.”
Red, oil on canvas, 45 x 42"
In Umbrella, a reclining figure holds her arms above her head with her fingers interlocked, safe from rain, sun and the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Content in her self-made security, she rests in a sea of black in a dress composed of swirling green brushstrokes. —
Principle Gallery • 208 King Street • Alexandria, VA 22314 • (703) 739-9326 • www.principlegallery.com
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