5 Minutes with... Jean-Luc Almond

Who/what are your inspirations for your paintings?

Although I have a mixture of inspirations, they do tend to lean toward historical sources, such as Victorian photography, baroque masters, and early film. Therefore, the sources are often black and white, a bit eerie and pixelated. This is interesting to me as it allows further room to transform the subjects through colour and texture. I have an obsession, particularly with texture and the possibilities of oil paint. My paintings often have obscuring elements, as the surface of the image becomes as interesting to me as the subjects. I collect many photos and stick them to the walls of my studio. I then take different elements from all of them and merge them, like a collage, although they are fully painted. I also collect masks and light them in my studio from different angles. I like to superimpose these light sources onto the subjects in the photos to create added drama through strong definitions in the shadows and lights.

What is your process in creating a painting?

I work with oil paint and use many layers. I begin a painting in a relatively representational and classical way, carefully blending and refining the features of the subjects. However, there comes a point during the process that I feel the urge to break from that representation and the paintings become more chaotic and about surface texture and creating a tension between figurative and abstract elements. I like the idea of polarities existing, such as darkness and light, damage and order and the beautiful chaos that for me reflects life itself more truthfully. 

The paintings have tension as they are obscured and almost in flux. You have to search beneath all the layers to find hints of different references and the textures can almost feel like minute landscapes up close. The layering is both physical but also perhaps metaphorical of the different layers of our being, like self-portraits. 

I'm drawn to ambiguity and I find painting more evocative when there's not just the outward appearance of something but also an element of the internal. At times, it feels as though I'm trying to excavate emotions through the physicality of the thick surfaces I create.

I'm curious about the potential of taking an image beyond my full understanding and control, leaving some areas as happy accidents and not being enslaved to the subject matter. I use various tools to paint with, such as trowels, spatulas and squeegees. I find it exciting to discover new marks to contrast alongside more traditional brushwork.

Any fun/interesting facts about you?

I was born in the Congo to missionary parents!

I'm a bit of an insomniac and often paint best at night when I'm working in complete silence and without distractions.

Although I've been drawing since I could hold a pencil I was always scared of getting my hands dirty with paint. It was only in my teens that I overcame this. Perhaps this liberation is what led to the obsession with the textural possibilities of paint.

And if you have any exciting things coming up this year?

I'm potentially having a solo show later in the year. I'm also looking forward to collaborating with my galleries at new art fairs . I recently moved to the Channel Islands. I'm looking forward to seeing how island life and the new studio setup will inspire my work.