Element : Water Painting

“Every brushstroke, and drop of paint, is an expression of emotion. And it’s this energy in these paintings that I share with you.” Once upon a time, I worked with the big guys—Warner Brothers, Nestlé—helping bring their ideas to life. Until the day it was my turn, and left corporate America. A self-employed artist since 2003, when I began turning wood on a 650 pound lathe. Eventually carving and painting the wood pieces which were often inspired by birds. In 2010, while caring for my mother, I stepped away from the wood shop and began painting exclusively. Over the years, creating bold abstract and portraits that often include words, marks, and symbols have found me the most joy. Much of my work is built upon layers and layers of paint, revealing colors beneath, or beside them in a dance between light and dark, color and contrast. My spicy neurodivergent brain thrives on unpredictability, so my process unfolds intuitively and sometimes out of sequence. Eventually these develop into series' of paintings. This blend of flow and spontaneity is how I create art that feels alive and authentic. Being a Gemini, I’m basically two people rolled into one, and my art reflects that. A walking contradiction—I love meditating in my organic garden, birdwatching, hiking and believe it or not, gaming! But I’m also knee-deep into the mystical stuff: tarot cards, dowsing, astrology, you name it. I geek out over ancient history, aliens, and myths like they’re popcorn at the movies. Based in Sonoma County, I share life with my wife, our aging rescue pup Ziggy, and Annie, our spirited tortoiseshell cat. If you live nearby, or ever find yourself in Sonoma, I’d love to welcome you to my studio. Make an appointment, stop by, and let’s connect through art. Art is deeply personal and unique to each of us. It's a way to celebrate our true selves, especially in a world that often pushes us to fit into neat little boxes. Breton’s paintings can be found in collections from the U.S. to England, Germany, Switzerland, France, Ireland and more.