ARTOGRAPHY

MJ live painting during the second round of the

Spoke Art Attack competition in Toronto, ON in August 2017

Paintings
Series
Illustrations
Publications
Live art show 3
Exhibitions

ARTIST STATEMENT

I create to better understand the world around me with the purpose of uncovering the mysteries behind people, nature, places and how they relate to one another. I study them through my sketches, drawings and paintings, analyzing every details looking for connections, substance and meaning. I have an obsession with finding meaning behind my subjects : looking for the unseen and bringing them into light for others to see more.

When I draw a portrait, I aim to convey more than physical appearances and incorporate personalities. When I paint a location, I aim to not only convey the forms but their connection to people, and their history. When I draw patterns, I aim to align them with the blueprint of geometry found in nature.

Creating art makes me feel more connected to people because I feel I understand them (and myself) better. With my art, I wish to convey a sense of human connection, curiosity, wonder, awe, and happiness. Uplifting people’s spirit through my art energizes me. Knowing that there’s a chance that my art can help others appreciate life more fully gives me a great sense of purpose.

The main message I aim to convey with my art is that our world is more wonderful and magical then we can ever imagine and that we are all connected. My goal is to be able to not only help others see and feel that as well. It has always been a goal of mine to participate in increasing the presence of positive, uplifting and insightful art and share it with as many people as possible so that I can contribute in positively impacting the lives of as many people as I can.

I’m fascinated and continuously inspired by artists such as Alfonse Mucha, Salvador Dali, Alex Grey, Leonardo DaVinci, Carravagio, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Gustav Doré and Lawren Harris who give me a great sense of awe, wonder and belonging whenever I look at their work and inspire me to keep growing as an artist.

ART SERIES

First African Americans (2015)
100 cloud paintings (2017)
Mindfulness (2018)

PUBLICATIONS

2015, Color your stress away (Amazon)
2015, Urban Sketching Disappearing Landmarks in Toronto (Amazon)
2016, Color Your Stress Away (Pocket Edition) (Amazon)

EXHIBITIONS

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2017 | Thought Leaders Synergy, Coffee Public, Toronto

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2019 | Under 100, Northern Contemporary Gallery, Toronto

2019 | Sketching the Line, Pattison Outdoors, Toronto

2018 | Fill’er up Sketchbook Exhibition, Earl Selkirk Gallery, Toronto

2018 | Sketching the Line, Pattison Outdoors, Toronto

2017 | Sketching the Line, Pattison Outdoors, Toronto

2016 | Celebrate Toronto Pop Up Art Show, South Core Financial Building, Toronto

2016 | Celebrate Toronto Art Show, Steam Whistle Brewing, Toronto

2016 | Sketching the Line, Pattison Outdoors, Toronto

2016 | Drake Art Show, Northern Contemporary Gallery, Toronto

2015 | Art in Transit, Pattison Outdoor, Toronto & Edmonton

2015 | Toronto Urban Sketchers, Areej Art Gallery, Toronto

2014 | A.R.T. Group, Sage Cafe, Toronto

2014 | A.R.T. Group, Bampot, Toronto

INSTALLATIONS, SHOWCASES & PERMANENT COLLECTION

2019 | Two St Thomas, Toronto

2019 | Arc Condos at Daniels Erin Mills, Mississauga

2018 | Bell Box Mural, Trinity Spadina Neighbourhood, Toronto

2017 | WinterFest, UrbanArts, Toronto

2017 | Movable Wall Mural, UrbanArts, Toronto

2011 | High vs Low, Ottawa Home and Garden Show, Ottawa

2010 | Design Trends Dining Rooms, Ottawa Home and Garden Show, Ottawa

SPECIAL EVENTS

Live art competitions are events where artists get to paint in the middle of an audience during a limited amount of time and the audience get to pick their favourite artworks. Typically there are three rounds of painting session, and at each round the top voted artists gets to go to the next round. At the final round, a winner is announced. The paintings are also available for sale during an auction at the end of the event. Below are the life painting competition I participated in thus far.

YEAR	LOCATION	EVENT	NB ROUNDS	NB SOLD
2018	Spoke Club, Toronto (ON)	Spoke Art Attack	1	0
2017	Spoke Club, Toronto (ON)	Spoke Art Attack	2	2
2015	Purina Pawsway, Toronto (ON)	Paint for Paws	1	1
2014	Markham Theatre Underground,Markham (ON)	Art Battle 93 Markham	1	0

MURALS

YEAR	CLIENT	LOCATION
2018	Bell Canada	Bell Box - Dundas W. & Lakeview, Toronto (ON)
2017	UrbanArts Community Arts Council	UrbanArts Community Arts Council, Toronto (ON)
2016	Private home	Toronto (ON)

GRAPHIC RECORDING AND LIVE PORTRAITS

YEAR	CLIENT	SERVICE
2019	Bioderma, Toronto	Live painting
2018	Atelier Cologne, Yorkdale Mall	Live portraits
2018	Ontario Trillium Foundation	Graphic Recording
2017	The Spoke Club	Live Portraits
2017	Rumeet Billan, PHD	Graphic Recording
2017	Karlyn Percil	Graphic Recording
2017	KPMG	Graphic Recording

GRAPHIC DESIGN SERVICES FOR PUBLICATIONS

YEAR	AUTHOR	BOOK	SERVICES
2019	Sonya Singh	Lighting Strikes Twice	Cover Illustration
2016	Adam Quang	Secret Journal of a Yogi: Chair Yoga	Layout design
2013	Eric Thomas	Greatness is Upon You	Illustrations and layout
2013	Eric Thomas	Greatness is Upon You - Workbook	Illustrations and layout

MEDIA