Fractured Light: The Paintings of Michele Poirier-Mozzone
Summertime stands still in underwater pastel paintings
Playing in the ocean. Wading in a lake with your cousins. Escaping the heat by diving into the backyard pool. Drying off in the warmth of the sun. Water is connected to so many summer memories, and it’s these fleeting moments that are captured so exquisitely by the paintings of Michele Poirier-Mozzone.
In her series, “Fractured Light,” Michele explores the beauty and distortion of water, sunlight, memories, and the human figure. The work began as an attempt to preserve a summer moment with her youngest daughter, then evolved as she explored ideas about body image, the passage of time, and the turmoil that naturally exists in sun-drenched water.
Michele’s topics and techniques come together to create works of art that practically glow in the rooms where they are hung. Each painting starts in the summer sun with a GoPro, a waterproof video camera, which allows Michele to film her subjects (usually friends, family, and even herself) underwater. This gives her the freedom to “explore crazy angles” and play with perspective, sometimes looking up at her model, as in “Finding Balance,” which captures natural movement and distortion from below the surface of the water.
Michele has always been drawn to the figure. As a child she was constantly sketching figures and faces. She continues that exploration today because capturing the figure is such a challenge, noting that even untrained eyes can instantly tell when something’s not quite right with the face or body.
After picking the perfect moment from her underwater files, Michele starts her work with a watercolor underpainting on sanded paper, choosing colors that will peer through and enhance the layers of pastel she’ll apply on top.
Michele’s work is colorful, balancing the blues of the water and the bright fabrics of the swimsuits. This gives her paintings an uplifting feel, bringing a sense of joy and happiness to the work, and capturing the essence of summer.
“Pastel is a beautiful medium.” says Michele. “It’s pure pigment and when you use a color like turquoise, it just jumps off the page.”
Michele explains that pastel painting is enjoying a renaissance, soaring in popularity over the past 30 years. Its appeal is evident in the luminescence of her work.
Her final touch to each painting is the addition of bubbles, sparkles, and highlights. That’s the moment when the painting comes to life and when she knows the piece is complete. By the time it is finished, each painting has discovered its own unique personality and story, helping summertime stand still.
What memories do you see in Michele’s work? Find out in person by visiting The Drawing Room, where selections from her “Fractured Light” series are currently available for purchase.