Joan Dumouchel paints intuitive dreamscapes where the only certainty is the direct and open emotional connection with the subject of the painting. Joan’s misty, ethereal canvases are peopled by the captivating visages of theatrical performers, mimes, acrobats and circus artists. What is portrayed is the contemplative inner realm of personas more typically seen in dramatic states of extroversion. The atmospheric paintings highlight the individuality of each expression; a unique nuance is captured in each portrait and rendered as if in a dream. Joan’s color palette runs cool or warm, creating the tenor of the scene. Watery blues melt over silver leaf, veiling her subject in liquid color and generating a sense of serenity. Fiery earth tones on gold leaf impart a drama and allure, diffusing the effects of light as if through steam. Born and raised in Montreal, Joan Dumouchel demonstrated artistic tendencies at a young age. As a child, she constantly drew objects and figures. Drawing gave Dumouchel a creative outlet which allowed her to express her inner thoughts and emotions, a trait which can still be seen in her artwork. Dumouchel developed her interest in portraiture and figurative painting while studying at the University of Quebec in Montreal. “I painted from a live model for many years. Consequently, these individuals became vital to me, they are my focus…as I often say...I live with my subjects.” Joan’s early life as a painter was far more structural, and she painted in a hyper-realistic style. Her tight draftsmanship eventually became too constricting, but Joan’s precise scrutiny of facial expression and gesture lives at the heart of her current work. Joan’s daughter, who trained in the theatre, went on to practice circus arts and is an integral part of the realm Joan paints today. We glimpse the backstage world of the circus, the prelude to fantasy, a mysterious place poised at the edge of revelation in spotlights.