The method behind the madness

Paintings ranging from contemporary to the abstract, along with the vibrant and compelling can be seen at MHCC’s Visual Arts Gallery this month. The artwork displayed has been created by the Watercolor Society of Oregon’s along with the artist Ed Labadie.

Labadie is an award-winning artist whose paintings are part of personal and corporate collections all over the U.S., New Zealand and Australia. His works are touted online for their “vibrant colors, creating memorable impressions with viewers, elevating his art from simple depictions to personal visions.”

His painting style ranges from contemporary abstracts, scenic outdoor images and wildlife works, to whatever sparks his interests at the time. The artist uses a number of mediums, including watercolor, oils, and acrylics.

Labadie says in one of his YouTube videos, “I think that the secret of painting is to enjoy the process.” He has adapted a style of painting he calls “creating from chaos” – one that allows the artist to use visualization and imagination to create pictures from letting paint slide and mix naturally on the canvas, with only minor manipulation. After the background is complete, the artist steps back and imagines what kind of picture the background can become, then can start bringing the picture to life with paint and design.

Some of Labadie’s pieces shown at MHCC include a woman painted with acrylic, with a but imperfect form. He used greens, pink, yellow, and cremes to paint her, making her beautifully and elaborately colored. Under her is what looks to be a cement slab painted in blues, and the  background of the painting include a variety of colors and shapes. The technique in color on this piece is so arresting, mixed into a vibrant, breathtaking piece.

It is clear that Labadie truly loves his color, when looking at all of his art work. Another piece of his shown in the Gallery is that of a railroad town. Tall buildings rise with mountains, as a railroad track finds its way around everything. The sky in this piece is was is most visually capturing, however. The artist outlined a large dove in the yellow sky and green mountain. The dove is soaring in the sky like some amazing and mythical creature, giving all the townspeople hope.

Some of the products of Labadie’s “creating from chaos” style and other works of his may be found in the Visual Arts Gallery through Feb. 4. The Gallery is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.