A Sincere Conversation with Remi LaBarre

Courtesy of Artist

Remi LaBarre is an internationally recognized Canadian Artist and Painter. His art has been featured in many publications, including American Art Collector, USA, Art Business Today, UK, and Magazin’art, Canada. His artwork has been exhibited in art galleries in Canada, the UK, Dubai, and on international cruise ships like Queen Mary 2. His work has been collected internationally. I had the pleasure of asking Remi the mood he is in when he creates artwork, and when he decided to incorporate music into his artwork.

UZOMAH: How are music and art therapeutic? 

REMI:  My family is very much important to me, and I spend quality time with them, but I am also quite solitary and introverted. Being alone in my studio listening to music and creating art allows me to resource myself and recharge my batteries. It is also very important for me to express my emotions and let go of my feelings on canvas. Sometimes, I will reach such a level of communion that I will experience the flow ( Mihály Csíkszentmihályi ). To summarize, spending time in my studio is rejuvenating for me. When I am traveling or away from my studio for 4-5 days without being able to paint, I miss it deeply, and it has a negative impact on my humor. So in that sense, music and art are very therapeutic.  

Music and art produced by artists are also very therapeutic to me. You can relate to someone else’s experiences; listening to some lyrics, you don’t feel alone with the same emotion; sometimes it helps to put words on what you live and sometimes to take a step back with a particular situation. Music and art help me.    

U: What musician would you love to see that is no longer living that you have painted and have not seen?

R:  I have seen Leonard Cohen perform twice, but I never had the chance to meet him and share a few words. Although I don't know all of his repertoires, I would have to choose Elvis for all he brought to music, the energy, and the charisma. David Bowie would be on that list as well. 

As time passes by, chances that I will be able to see a live show by Tom Waits are decreasing, but I would love to see him at his piano singing "Kentucky Avenue," "On The Nickel," or "I Wish I Was In New Orleans." I would also love to see the French singer Renaud 

Trumpet from the south - Dixie I 36''x24''

U: Do you play the musicians you paint music while you create?

R: Not sure I understand the question.

 I start with a photo shoot at my place with a model and the accessories, hats, etc. We try different setups and moods and I like to work with Lana Del Rey’s music in the background for instance which has a great nostalgic vibe. I can take like 400-500 pictures on a shooting, different angles, different items of clothing, and ambiance. From there I select the few pictures that inspire me the most to paint. 

I always have music on when I paint. I start with rock music, sometimes the volume could be quite high, and I use a large paintbrush for the background with very loose and intuitive brushstrokes. As the painting evolves, the music tends to get quieter like folk music, a paintbrush is tinier and the gesture is more precise with details of the face, hands, and music instrument.

U: What do you want your art to say about the connection between art and music?

R:  I want people to look at my paintings, and I want them to hear the music… 

Although I had tried guitar lessons when I was 15, I never really had talent at playing an instrument, and I can’t read music…the closest I get to play music is when I paint it.

I guess my art is some sort of tribute to music.

Piano Man 36''x24''

U: How have you developed your career over the years and created a following?

R: I was drawing a lot when I was 5 and never really stopped since then, trading my colored pencils for acrylic. My mom says I was born with colors in my hands.

I started with 2 fans, my parents, and slowly showed my art to friends and family. My aunt was an amateur painter and she asked me to participate with her in a local art festival when I was 15. My signature was not developed at the time and I was still exploring different styles although the theme around music, coffee shops, and bars was getting clearer. I use to go to parks in the summertime as there is always someone who brings his guitar and played music. I did a few paintings of people playing music in parks back then. 

Although I love the outdoors, I think that I only did 2 or 3 landscape paintings in my life.

In my late 20s early 30s, my style stabilized and my signature and style became clear. 

From local galleries to national galleries I wanted to test myself and see if my art could travel outside Canada. I started to work with DeMontfort Fine Art in 2010 and they helped me for many years to develop the UK market.

U: Can you describe the mood you are in when you decide to paint?

R:  I have to reach a certain level of a relaxed state of mind and free my mind. I try to go away from daily chores and preoccupations. Sometimes I lay down, maybe read for 20 minutes, sometimes I think about the lyrics of a song, even informally meditate. Once in a while, I have a glass of wine. When I am there, and I know when I am there, I can go to my studio… you can’t push when you don’t feel it. 

Marbella song I 36''x24''

U: When did you decide to incorporate a musical aspect in your art?

R:  It came naturally. I never forced it. 

I visited "music cities" like New Orleans, Nashville, Memphis, Chicago, Austin, New York, Havanah, and Europe. When in Lisbon, I was looking for Fado. Whenever I travel, I like to go to live shows and even visit mythic theaters like when I was in Milan, I visited La Scala. I also visited the Gibson guitar factory a few years ago on a guided tour. Music is a part of my life as it is part of my art. It can't be isolated.

I also enjoy reading about music history and the background, and I find it fascinating, like how jazz was born.

Music is at the center of my art and my life and musical instruments. I find it inspiring, and it gives such an atmosphere in a house. I probably have any instrument that you could think of, including bagpipes and harp, my latest addition. I have 10 guitars at home, including a Portuguese guitar, double bass, piano, accordion, sax, drum, etc..

Sax Salute 36''x24''

U: If you could describe your art with a song, what would it be and why?

R:  That is quite a nice question that I have never been asked before. I had to think a lot about it. I believe that it could be "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. Firstly, I love that song and love piano bars in general ("Don't Tell Mama in NYC" is a must). I also see myself in that pianist observing people and his environment. I love to observe and look at people learn about their stories. That's material to put on canvas. And these people all come to have a good time, and that is how I like to see my art bring happiness to people.   

U: How would you explain the relationship between art and music?

R:  I couldn't picture my life or my art without music. Plus, I love those projects involving the two art forms, like when artist Gareth Heesom created a song inspired by my life and art ( Love At Night - YouTube ). I also worked with my singer-songwriter friend Luc Boyer to develop his cd album visual ( Album On a besoin de nous par Luc Boyer | QUB musique ). I would love more of these projects. One dream would be working on an audio (with music) children's book that I could illustrate. It could be nice to work also on a portrait series of a professional musician while working on a new song… 

You can find more information about Remi's artwork at his site. Also, follow him on Instagram and like him on Facebook.