SAINTE-ANNE-DES-LACS | JANUARY 2022

Three years after painting his first canvas, Didier Correia doesn’t regret a single second of having changed the course of his life to embark on this new path full-time. Originally from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, the professionally known one as Didier Artist now resides in the Laurentians. In this region of remarkable landscapes, the magic happened in January 2019.

With a bachelor’s degree in business administration from HEC Montreal, he worked for six years as a sales representative for a factory-built home company. His rational side had won over his artistic side by then. “ When I was young, one of my hobbies was pencil drawing. As a teenager, I moved into music, more specifically drums, and with my other pursuits, I put drawing aside completely. Later, in my early 30’s, I started looking for new hobbies. My wife suggested that I go back to drawing. After two months, I was painting my first canvas,” explains the man for whom this “hobby” quickly became a revelation.

His life has indeed changed since that day. He had more and more canvas orders and less and less time to complete them. He, therefore, decided to quit his job temporarily. “ Initially, it was only supposed to be a try. I wasn’t sure it would lift, and that wasn’t necessarily the goal. I told myself that I would see where this would take me. In the end, I never stopped, and it has become a great career that I love to enjoy every day. ”

Didier also admits that he was at a turning point in his life. Several questions jostled in his head about his future. What must have been a little way out while waiting to see more clearly nevertheless opened his eyes to what he wanted to do in life: paint!

Evolution

The artist defines his evolution in three phases. “ At first, I would say it was more pop art with well-defined areas and color gradients. Subsequently, I worked 100% with the knife to finally integrate the airbrush and add an abstract touch. With a mixture of a few techniques, I discovered my style. I start with spatulas and acrylic to create the abstract background. I will then take the airbrush to create the shadows of the faces and the bodies. I also bring out a 3D effect, then use the knife on top of it for the finish. ”

Didier is, above all, attracted by portraits and bodies. He doesn’t close the door to exploring other things eventually. He especially loves the challenge of accurately reproducing a face.

“ I didn’t know anything about art until I painted my first painting. I often associated art with what I saw in museums, which I couldn’t understand. I still hadn’t found what spoke to me. During a trip to Miami, we fell in love with it. I visited the Wynwood art district and loved the color mixes in the artwork that you can see there. I started to incorporate this into my portraits. Now, when I go for a walk or in a car, my brain is constantly looking for mixtures of colors that inspire me and that I can reproduce. I am proud of what I have succeeded in creating, and in my eyes, it is unique. ”

Didier was supposed to hold his first vernissage in April 2020. Due to the pandemic, is plan turned upside down, and the event had been canceled. Numerous orders have kept him busy for the past two years. However, he hopes to hold a public opening by the end of 2022 to meet the people who encourage him on Facebook and Instagram.

Proof that his career has taken the right turn, his wife now supports administrative duties full time. They also hired a resource person to help them. Didier can now focus on his paintings. The majority of promotional activity for his works takes place on Facebook, Instagram, and his website.

Professionally, Didier dreams of being represented in a Miami gallery three to five years from now. “ As long as the enthusiasm continues to be strong in Quebec, I want to keep going for it. I think the rest will come when I feel it’s time to take the next step. ”