Sebastien and Hugo Confer About the Arrival of Spring Painting

Each painting evolves through a multi-layered process, beginning with a loose mental image or concept that considers - what is beautiful? Compelling? Impossible? Absurd and/or moving? Poetic prompts are then composed - along with uploaded images and my own photography - to “direct” generated images using synthography (A.I.). These provide the composite pieces (a tree, hill, sky, hat, shoe, hand, animal, person, flower, etc) which are collaged together in Photoshop. This final “foundation” image is then printed using pigment ink on archival paper and mounted onto a wood panel. At this point, the image is “worked back into the world” using a variety of physical media: watercolor, charcoal, graphite, chalk, pencil and encaustic medium/pigment - which is heated to a liquid form and applied. Once cooled, the luminous, smooth surface is selectively carved to reveal the underpainting and create texture and dimension. As winter stretches on ... the black-capped chickadee provides daily encouragement with its cheerful countenance. This image is inspired by the long wait for spring, and imagining a conversation with one of the "locals" here in Vermont. The painting is created on a 6" x 6" x 1.5" deep wood panel and does not require framing. To view a video of the painting visit my Etsy shop at