Born in 1952 in Arvida, Quebec, Chris Charlebois has spent most of his life in British Columbia. He attended the Vancouver School of Art under Bruce Boyd and Don Jarvis, a student of Hans Hofmann. Hofmann taught PUSH-PULL, a philosophy about the balance of forces and elements that are in a relationship. Since then his work has been collected by numerous private and corporate collectors. Inspired by the west coast environment his work is evolving into a kind of nature based abstraction inspired by the West Coast of Canada. Chris spent most of his life in British Columbia and currently lives and works just south of Vancouver in Richmond,BC.
Artist Statement
I cannot compete with nature, but I can attempt to add to it.
My goal as a painter has always been to simply express. Nature is the source of that expression. I look for the gesture in nature. It is that dominant line of movement and structure that all the elements in a painting will be built upon. By taking apart ( abstracting ) the components of the subject, then rebuilding making systematic logical choices a result of clear expression can be attained.
From nature I find direction. Colours and lines seen or felt, are expressed as almost infinite notes, harmonies, patterns and rhythms. From these references my paintings are formed.
