Krzysztof Doniewski — Painter & Visual Artist

Perfect Kiss

I was born in Kielce, Poland. Both of my parents were teachers and had an authoritarian style of parenting. After finishing elementary school I went on to become an electrician as someone had suggested this would provide a good salary. Due to communism I left Poland in 1981 and came to Canada, first arriving in Alberta and then to Montreal.

This is when it seems I surrendered to the true desires in my soul, I had secretly always loved art. Perhaps I had more of a chance here in Canada, so I went to the Alberta College of Arts in Calgary. It was as if I had found myself. What I realize now is that I had felt imprisoned within myself. A timid and withdrawn child from such an authoritarian childhood. Finally I could express myself, surrendering into the beauty of creation. Every painting seemed like I was learning to grow and heal.

The act of painting, for me, is a state of exaltation. I trick my conscious mind out of its habitual perceptions, by distraction, by amusement, by turning the canvas upside down or painting when the sun goes down and I can barely see the colours on my palette. I seek a certain vibration in a work of art, by working quickly. I like to feel a kind of aggressive reality, when beauty bursts with grace, or when stillness is euphoric and exhilarating.

As I paint, my heart wings with iris petals, flutters during the warm melting of winter, ready to be immersed in the budding richness of spring - this is the time that makes me feel like a new born baby, full of wonder and fantasy. My mission is to find the flower that seduces me, bring her home, and immortalize her forever with passionate brush strokes ...