"Art is to the eyes what a gourmet meal is to the palate." This is Johanne Gravel’s creative philosophy. Throughout her life, she has always wanted to express herself through painting. To that end, she has studied many trompe l 'oeil and faux finishing techniques at Faux Effects studio, as well as on her own.
Additionally, Johanne’s heritage is rich with creative talent. She comes from a long line of artists, who worked with a variety of mediums. In her family there are painters, diamond setters, photographers, and fashion designers. Her life experience ranges from serving in the Merchant Marine to working with the telephone company. It is this diverse background that inspires her work.
Many of Johanne's pieces focus on nature and the outdoors.She explains: "Because of the pace of modern society, we seldom find time to enjoy nature, and so we must bring the outdoors in. I think that appreciating the beauty of nature is healthful for your soul.” The theme of finding solace in nature's beauty is made clear by her body of work. Her extensive world travels have given her a vast repertoire of ideas to draw from. This, combined with her lifelong love of nature and the sea make windswept seascapes and breathtaking gardens her favorite subjects.
As a detail-oriented painter, she always attempts to tap into the ideas and preferences of her client. Many times she has found that the client does not feel creative enough to contribute to the composition process. However, Johanne firmly believes that there is an artist in every one of us, and loves to draw out that creativity in her clients. She expresses her motivation by saying that we were simply "created to be creative." She feels that, through observation exercises, people will often be surprised at the amount of creativity they actually possess. "To be inside someone’s mind in that way is almost as satisfying as actually creating the artwork. If you have helped someone discover their own creativity, you begin to see that art is about much more than the finished product. The journey is just as enjoyable as observing the completed art."
Johanne says that “when you are an artist, you are always learning. If you continually learn something new, you will expand your creative talents.” Johanne does just that with each project she completes.
If you would like to commission faux finishing or custom artwork from Johanne, you are invited to get in touch with her. To do so, please visit the contact page.
