Johanne AL Haley
Ottawa, ON - Canada
Johanne AL Haley - Fine Artist
Member Since: 07/04/2011
A self taught artist, I was born and raised in the country, Navan Ontario (my mother's hometown) then Hammond Ontario, close to the farm where my father and ancestors were born.
Passionate about colours and nature, painting faces of people who mostly do not exist just for the pleasure of creating and seeing the outcome! or doing very detailed work to challenge my mind really make me happy! Each painting makes me smile when I get to see the fruit of my labor in the end.
One minute I work on details, other times I try another style. Whichever me heart tells me to try I do it. Photography is also a big passion which I discovered when I was 14 years old. My first picture was that of a cat.
Another moment, you will find a woman who's passionate about painting whimsical art. Be it people, animals, or trees, anything that is fun and filled with bright colours! And writing..........my other way of creating which Io adore!
Other times, my world goes abstract and I can let loose and see where the paintbrushes will take me next time. A self taught artist I am always surprised about each and every journey I make while working on a canvas or wood. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning after I realize that, 'hey, I like this one, I'll do better in the following one --painting--and I'll keep learning as I go.' I refuse to take lessons. Not because I can't afford it, 'cause in all truth I really can't, but because my pride wouldn't let me anyway. That's how I am. I am happy with the way things are. Some paintings I have worked on for many, many hours. For example, 'Light of the World' and 'Jackson' I poured my heart and soul into, no Van Gogh but I am happy with my creations. They are mine. :) I was the kid in school who couldn't do anything right. I was too tall, I was too skinny, I was different. I simply had a mind of my own and for a girl I think it wasn't the way to be. I was 'me' and I was happy with 'me'. I'm still here and painting with a vengeance.
...as a little girl, I drew on anything I could lay my pencil or crayons onto. Book covers, the pages, record album sleeves, walls, my running shoes (sorry ADIDAS) then later on I would sketch cartoon characters onto cars and my (late) husband and I would paint the images and ride around in those cars. Kids loved this I loved it too as it made children giggle and or yell 'hello' to us. I still create characters and would love to see them come to life one day!
Now I paint onto canvases and no longer paint vehicles. But i still paint furniture or rocks, something I started doing in my teens. Back then--1980--there was no Internet and I wasn't aware that what I did is called Folkart or that furniture or rock painting was actually done at all. I think it's wonderful that it has become so popular and that older furniture have a new colourful life.
All in all, I paint and I get lost on a world of my own. If it wasn't for emptying my emotions by creating, only God knows where I'd be 'cause I don't. Time flies and painting keeps me grounded. My mind never stops. I see images in my head constantly. With only two hands and not enough time to do everything at once, I don't have enough time to do everything I want to do, so....I do what heart tells me to do.
Now that you've learned a litlle bit about me, it's time I learned about another artist here today. So many wonderful artists on the site!
Thank you for reading my biography, and if anyone has comments or constructive criticism, do not hesitate to give me a holler! : )
-Johanne AL Haley
p.s. just for the record, my maiden name is Laplante.
Johanne AL Haley has not created any image galleries.