Circe's Art

2009-11-22T13:42:00.004-05:00

Lamia / Lamie

oil on canvas / huile sur toile 18" x 18"

$700.

* inspired after a photo by Denis-André Desjardins

2009-11-22T13:40:00.003-05:00

Herpower / Puissance

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

12" x 24"

$750.

Even when naked and as we bare ourselves, we women are empowered by our decision to be.

Même nues, nous femmes, pouvons et sommes en contrôle de nos vies et nos corps.

Circé' s Artist Statement

2009-11-15T08:28:00.001-05:00

I create my erotic art from the inside out, as a woman born with a biological condition called transsexuality, i have had to come into my own as a female through much hardships. My path towards re-claiming my femininity and sense of womanhood was a struggle, and emotional pain, a constant reminder of society’s misogynistic and sexist attitude towards women in general and specifically towards females such as i. I think that my life experiences have given me a unique perspective, one that i try to share with all. I am passionate on many issues but i am generally even more vocal when it comes to women and the treatment they are sadly often subjected to because of abusive and oppressive stereotypes and prejudices born of patriarchy.

For the past three years, my art has involved the creation of a celebration of females in all their multifaceted splendor and beauty. I have put over a year in painting and drawing a series of pieces just about vaginas, because i felt they deserved celebrating and respect and honor. I have had a few shows in which my vagina paintings were showcased. Of course, i was influenced by plays, books, friends and especially from the fact that i had to have corrective surgery in order to finally have my own vagina. I had to work a lot and go through so many hurdles and barriers to finally be in a position to have my body aligned with my brain to be whole. It is probably clear by now that i am a feminist and that i do what i can to empower everything female.

I am also a queer woman, known for my penchant for the female erotic for which i give no apology, i simply love females. I think that speaking out through my art is what i should be doing. I am influenced by all the great women of the past and present, be they known by all or admired and known only to me.

I draw and paint in a realistic style and my training as an artist consists of five years in a private art school in Montreal, Canada, otherwise i am self taught. It is important to me that i broach topics deemed taboo or not for polite company as i take comfort and satisfaction from all the artists of the past who created erotic art. I have had paintings in various Erotic Art Shows and Events, in Canada as well as in the USA. Many will note that my paintings are somewhat reminiscent of the old masters, this is because i have always had a profound love of their work.

My art has won awards and has found homes in many private collections. I live in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, surrounded by beautiful mountains and lakes, my two cats Violet and Corky and the love of my life.

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Démarche Artistique

Mon art se penche sur le corps, l’ esprit et le sentiment d’ autonomie de la femme. J’aime créer l’art érotique car ça me permet d’inclure des messages et des commentaires sur le traitement et la perception des femmes dans le contexte social, politique, culturel et sexiste. Je tente de prendre parole sur la violence faite aux femmes et de souligner la beauté de la féminité. Dans mon art, je reproduis des concepts familiers de la nudité et de l’érotisme au féminin tout en y insérant de nouveaux éléments tels que les récits de lutte contre la politique de l’oppression ainsi que commentaires personels.

Je crée mon art érotique à partir de mon intérieur, du point de vue d’une femme née avec une condition biologique reconnue sous le terme de transsexualité et j’ai dû trouver mon chemin en tant que femme en traversant énormément d’épreuves. Mon cheminement et l’affirmation de ma féminité et mon existence en tant que femme a été un combat émotionel, social et physique ainsi qu’un rappel constant de l’attitude misogyne et sexiste de la société envers les femmes. Je sais que mon expérience de vie m’a donné une perspective unique que je tente de partager avec le public à travers mes oeuvres. Je suis une passionnée et je le suis encore davantage lorsqu’il s’agit de la femme et des traitements abusifs a laquelle elles sont souvent asujetties à cause de stéréotypes de violence et d’oppression et les préjugés nés du patriarcat.

Durant les trois dernières années, mon art se résume à une célébration de femmes dans toute leur splendeur et leur beauté. J’ai mis plus d’un an à la création d’une série d’oeuvres uniquement sur les vagins parce que je pense qu’ils méritaient d’être célébrés, respectés et honorés. J’ai exposée ces oeuvres dans des évènements artistiques consacrés à la femme à Montréal et aussi en Ontario. Une de celles-ci est accrochée au mur d’un Centre pour Femmes.

Bien sûr, mes influences sont multiples. Les plus marquantes sont les livres, les ami(e)s, ma partenaire et surtout le fait d’avoir finalement eu cette chirurgie corrective qui m’a permi d’être complête et entière en tant que femme. Aujourd’hui, mon corps est aligné avec mon cerveau et je suis comme toutes mes soeurs, comme toutes les femmes.

Je suis une femme dite “ queer “, reconnue pour mon penchant pour créer l’érotisme féminin que j’adore et pour lequel je suis sans remords. C’est important pour moi de faire parler mon art, mes oeuvres. Je suis influencée par les femmes du passé et du présent, qu’elles aient été célèbres et connues de tous ou ayant simplement un attrait personel.

Je dessine et peint dans un style réaliste et cela m’est tout naturel d’aborder ces sujets tabous qui ne sont pas pour tous les goûts. Je suis reconnaissante à tous ces artistes, même parmis les plus grands, qui ont créé de l’art érotique. Si Rembrandt, Bouguereaux, Renoir et touts les grands noms de l’histoire de l’art ont créés des oeurvres érotiques, c’est qu’il y a une place d’honneur pour ce genre et donc je me tien en bonne compagnie.

Mes oeuvres ont étés exposées dans plusieurs Salons et évènements d’ Arts Érotique au Canada et aux États-Unis. Mes tableaux ne sont pas sans rappeler les peintres d’autrefois que j’admire tant. J’ai un profond amour pour les vieux maitres.

Certains de mes tableaux ont remportés des prix et ont trouvés un toit dans des collections privées. Aujourd’hui, je vie dans la belle région de Lanaudière dans la province de Québec, entouré de montagnes et de lacs, mes deux chats Violet et Corky et l’amour de ma vie qui me donne tant d’énergie et de support.

2009-10-28T18:33:00.003-04:00

Shut up and be pretty / Tais-toi et sois belle

sanguine, charcoal, pastel on paper / saguine, fusain, pastel sur papier

17" x 20"

$325. can. (framed )

Looking through the eyes of pain, fear and shame of what society sadly still turns a blind eye. This is the artist's take on one form of abuse and she draws upon personal as well as universal realities on oppression of women, girls and all females.

A travers les yeux pleins de douleur, de peur et de honte sur l'insouciance de la société, l'artiste rend compte d'une forme d'abus et tire des conclusions aussi bien personelles qu'universelles sur l'oppression des femmes.

For collectors of my art / Pour les collectionneurs de mes oeuvres

2009-08-18T12:22:00.001-04:00

Dearest collectors and fans,

Because i know that some of my paintings command a price that many cannot afford easily and especially because i wish for anyone to be in a position to enjoy them without worries about a one time out of pocket purchase, i am now accepting reasonable installments payments for my art.

This means that anyone can now be the proud owner of my erotic art ( or even a commissioned piece ). So, don't miss out on this opportunity, you can start or add to your collection.

You can contact through this blog or through my website email at: joelle@circesart.com ( mention my offer ).

warm regards,

Circé

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Vu que mes oeuvres se vendent un prix que bien des gens ne peuvent se permettre d'un seul coup, je vous offre la possibilité de commencer ou d' augmenter votre collection en choissisant l'option de plusieurs paiements raisonables.

Vous pouvez me contacter via ce groupe ainsi que par le courriel de mon site officiel à: joelle@circesart.com ( s.v.p. mentionnez mon offre ).

sincèrement,

Circé

Article dans le Voir qui mentionne mon nom

2009-08-06T09:32:00.001-04:00

Festival d'art érotique de Montréal

De l'art et du cochon

ARTICLE - 6 août 2009

Aurore Lehmann

[+] agrandir

Noisette, Verre soufflé d'Aaron Andros, 12cmX17cm; Contrôle, de Victoria Carrasco.

L'art érotique sort du placard. La deuxième édition du Festival d'art érotique de Montréal s'acoquine avec la semaine gaie et nous gratifie d'une programmation axée sur la sensualité: expos, performances, ateliers, bal érotique et musique électro. C'est chaud.

Photographies de parties génitales, sculptures de femmes ligotées, performances qui versaient dans le fétichisme, l'année dernière, le Festival d'art érotique de Montréal frappait fort pour sa première édition. Et pour cause: le thème, la censure, avait été choisi délibérément pour frapper les consciences et montrer à quel point notre société n'est pas encore tout à fait libérée des carcans moraux. "Rien de neuf dans le fait que l'érotisme soit représenté dans l'art, des peintres pompiers à Picasso", rappelle Jacques Rivest, directeur du Conseil des arts du Québec (à ne pas confondre avec...), l'organisme instigateur de l'événement. "Pourtant, il y a à peine cinq ans, une galerie du Village a été obligée, à la suite de diverses plaintes, de retirer de sa vitrine une oeuvre de l'artiste Nicolaï Kupriakov, jugée trop choquante."

Pas sortis du bois. L'art érotique peine encore à trouver sa place, selon Jennifer-Lee Barker, qui coordonne le Festival, particulièrement dans les galeries bien en vue: "La plupart font carrière à l'extérieur de nos frontières. Circé, par exemple, a fait le tour des États-Unis pour montrer son travail." Néanmoins, au vu du nombre d'artistes, la plupart québécois, qui ont répondu cette année à l'appel du Conseil des arts du Québec, la discipline a de nombreux adeptes.

SENSUALITE

Moins provoc, mais tout aussi intense, le thème de cette année, la sensualité, flirte lui aussi avec l'interdit, mais vise plus large. "Les photographies de Chantal Gagné, qui représentent des fleurs en plans serrés, nous sont apparues, à nous comme à d'autres, comme des oeuvres érotiques. Pourtant, ça n'était pas son intention première." Ces photos seront visibles dans le cadre de l'exposition Provocation, qui se tiendra tout au long de l'événement, du 13 au 16 août. Elles côtoieront les oeuvres de plus d'une trentaine d'autres artistes, dont plusieurs ont été, ou seront, publiées dans une des éditions du livre The World's Greatest Erotic Art of Today. Peintures, photos, vidéos, dessins, le pire côtoie le meilleur et le kitch, le réalisme le plus pur, en passant par des oeuvres flirtant avec la bd. Le trait commun: l'érotisme, très assumé, accompagné parfois, ironiquement, d'un discours sur l'exploitation de la femme en tant qu'objet, comme c'est le cas pour les photographies de Daniel Harper.

NEO-BURLESQUE

Vivant. Le Festival d'art érotique de Montréal, c'est aussi des performances, qui étayent l'événement, du vernissage de l'exposition jusqu'au party de clôture. Et cette année, c'est cabaret! Né dans les années 90 à New York, le mouvement du néo-burlesque (qui n'a rien à voir avec Buster Keaton), qui revisite la fin du 19e siècle et les Folies Bergère, a pris du poil de la bête à Montréal. Le Festival accueille les plus fameuses artistes actuelles du genre, dixit Jennifer: Scarlet James, le Hot Cabaret Club, à mi-chemin entre danse, strip-tease et théâtre. "Les danseurs contemporains regardent le genre de haut, mais pour nous, le burlesque est à l'origine des performances érotiques. Les Bettie Page et autres Dixie Evans ont amené l'érotisme à un niveau classique." Avis aux amateurs: on pourra même participer à un atelier de dessin, avec modèle burlesque incluse (Jessica LaBlanche), le dimanche 16 août. Prière d'apporter ses crayons et ses feuilles de dessin...

PYJAMA PARTY ET ELECTRO

Pour l'édition 2009, le Festival a décidé de s'acoquiner avec le Pride Festival. "On avait envie d'aller chercher le public gai, de le faire sortir du village pour l'amener jusqu'aux oeuvres." En attendant de voir tout ce beau monde s'intéresser au marché de l'art érotique, c'est le Pride Festival qui investit le Musée Juste pour rire vendredi soir avec la soirée Tease Her. Au programme: électro, avec, entre autres, Ep Bergen (Bran van 3000) et DJ Danika Bass. Et, toujours le même soir, le Festival réitère sa collaboration avec Frank Monde Osé, pour le Bal érotique, qui promet d'être planant puisque le thème de cette année est Sweet Dreams. On met son plus beau pyjama et on se paie la traite au Club Opéra, dans une atmosphère bon enfant et légèrement décadente...

Festival de l'art érotique de Montréal
Du 13 au 16 août
Au Musée Juste pour rire et au Club Opéra
www.conseildesarts.com

Festival D'Art Érotique de Montréal

2009-07-24T09:07:00.004-04:00

FESTIVAL D’ART ÉROTIQUE DE MONTRÉAL 2009 ~ du 13 au 16 août

Pour une troisième année consécutive, le Conseil des Art du Québec (CAQ), en partenariat avec Bal érotique, est fier de présenter le FESTIVAL D’ART ÉROTIQUE DE MONTREAL, qui a pour objectifs de promouvoir positivement la sensualité, l'érotisme et la beauté à travers les arts : arts visuels, danse, performances, défilés de mode, musique, vidéo, films, lancement de livres et bien d'autres surprises. Il s’agit d’une occasion exceptionnelle de promouvoir les arts et les valeurs d’une société évolutive.

Bitten / La Morsure

2009-06-14T12:02:00.005-04:00

Bitten / La Morsure

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

15" x 30"

$975.

Giving over of one's trust and vulnerability as a conscious gift. In this, there is power and self-determinism but only so long as it's freely given and not imposed.

Donner en cadeau sa confiancce et sa vulnérabilité consciemment. Ceci est une action d'auto-déterminisme, de puissance, mais seulement lorsque nous le donnons en toute liberté et connaissance de cause à effet, jamais par force.

Peek-a-Boo / Cou-Cou

2009-06-14T11:58:00.004-04:00

Peek-a-Boo / Cou-Cou

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

36" x 48"

$3,400. can.

* inspired from a photo by ErosArtist with permission

Our power as female may be expressed in many ways. From the demure and passive to the joyful and bold explosive burst taken in the act of dressing up in fetish wear.

Notre pouvoir en tant que femme peut être exprmié de plusieurs façons, de la plus modeste et passive à une explosion joyeuse d'être vêtue de port fétiche.

Honorable mention

2009-05-26T20:48:00.002-04:00

Today, i received an email from the Detroit Dirty Show10, letting me know that my painting " Bound in Ecstasy "was chosen for an honorable mention by jury. Here is the link;

Honorable mention

2009-05-02T17:58:00.002-04:00

Red Toga / Toge Rouge

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

14" x 18"

$450.

* inspired after a photo by Argaive with kind permission.

In this piece, i wanted to play with the richness i saw in the classic looking nude female draped in a toga.

Je désirais jouer avec la richesse que je voyais dans ce nue très classique, habillé d'une toge.

Night's sweet reward

2009-05-02T17:54:00.003-04:00

Night's sweet reward

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

16" x 20"

$650.

Night, dark, mysterious and dangerous takes possession of it's reward. Far from the media and society's depiction of women, the artist allows herself to explore and even revel in the darker, taboo side of female power and sexuality. Circé seems to speak of the fear that some men have of strong women and females.

La nuit sombre, mystérieuse et pleine de dangers prend possession de sa récompense. Loin de la représentation des femmes avancer par les médias et la société, l'artiste explore et se délecte du côté obscure et tabou du pouvoir et de la sexualité des femmes. Circé nous montre un aspect qui fait peur a certains hommes, la présence de la femme en possession de toutes ses moyens.

My art featured for an article

2009-04-19T10:02:00.001-04:00

This week, i was asked by the organizers of the Rochester Ny Erotic Arts festival for permission to use the image of my painting " Burlesque " for an article in the Rochester Insider Magazine.

Life is good.

Circé

A revue of my art by Art of Love Mag

2009-04-19T09:56:00.003-04:00

Hello,

I guess when life is good, one should share and this is what i'm doing. Not only has my art been showcased in many excellent venues for erotic art lately but now an online erotic arts magazine who also specializes in doing revues/critiques of erotic art has written a positive article with a half dozen images of my art.

Please check it out.

Circé

Ciclées

2009-04-14T12:42:00.006-04:00

Giclées of " Night's sweet reward " will be one sale soon in two sizes; 14 3/4" x 18 1/2" for $195. and 6 1/2" x 8 1/4" for $50. . All are limited edition prints, signed and numbered on museum quality 500g french watercolor paper. Order yours as the first batch is small in numbers. Contact here or at: joelle@circesart.com

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Des giclées de mon tableau " Night's sweet reward " sont en vente en édition limiter et signées de ma main sur papier aquarelle français de 500g, qualité musée.Les grandeurs disponibles sont; 14 3/4" x 18 1/2" pour $195. et 6 1/2" x 8 1/2" pour $50. .Commandez le votre ici ou à: joelle@circesart.com

Rochester NY Erotic Arts festival 2009

2009-04-05T09:45:00.002-04:00

Great news!

Three of my paintings have been selected by jury to be part of the Rochester N.Y. Erotic Arts festival, april 25-26, 2009.

The paintings are: Damned, Burlesque and Private dancer.

If anyone goes to the show, please give me some feedback.

Circé

Toga nude

2009-03-09T17:54:00.003-04:00

Toga nude / Nue en Toge

charcoal on paper / fusain sur papier

18" x 24"

http://www.circesart.com/

$475. (framed )

* inspired after a photo by Argaive with kind permisson.

Damned / Damnée

2009-03-04T09:08:00.005-05:00

Damned / Damnée

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

12" x 24"

* inspired after a photo by ErosArtist with permission

$ 600.

A scene that can be taken as an interesting bondage set-up or for it's much deeper message, on that Circé added, create beyond the image she worked from. This is the artist's commentary on the social injustices brought to bare on visual minorities, and in this case, a woman of transsexual origin/experience.

Une scène pouvant être celle de " bondage " ou celle que Circé décida de rajouté au-delà de l'image originale qu'elle a utilisé comme source. Voici le commentaire de l'artiste sur les injustices sociales faites aux minorités visibles, dans ce cas-ci une femme d'origine/d'expérience transsexuelle.

Burlesque

2009-03-04T09:04:00.006-05:00

Burlesque

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

20" x 30"

* inspired after a photograph by ErosArtist

$ 1,200.

A moment, an instant, a snap shot of the performer's dance.

Un moment, un instant, une image captant la performance de la danseuse, de l'artiste.

Ottawa Sexapalooza

2009-01-02T20:48:00.002-05:00

Four of my paintings will be showcased at the Sexapalooza Trade Show in Ottawa' Canada on the 16, 17 and 18th of january 2009. This is an undertaking of the Conseil des arts du Québec so kudos to them for finding a creative way of showing their artists work.

Dirty Show

2008-12-22T15:58:00.001-05:00

Talk about an early X-Mass gift, this morning i got an email confirming that two of my paintings have been accepted for the " Dirty Show ".

Dirty Show 10th Anniversary
The Greatest Erotic Art Show On Earth!
February 6 - 14 , 2009 • Detroit, USA

Stump / La souche

2008-12-08T16:35:00.003-05:00

Stump / La souche

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

12" x 16"

SOLD / Vendu

Bound in Ecstasy / L'extase

2008-12-08T16:33:00.003-05:00

Bound in Ecstasy / L' Extase

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

30" x 40"

SOLD

Eroticism

2008-11-12T11:50:00.000-05:00

Been thinking on boundaries of all sorts, some good and some not so good but this introspection did, amongst other realizations, bring me to a, what i believe is a better and more profound understanding of what constitutes eroticism in art.

Like what does erotic mean? To my mind, it says what is acceptable in " legitimate society ". It's a representation, a boundary or rather the space between obscenity ( porn ) and the aesthetic high art. For me, it's anything but extremes, it's anything but opposites. I wonder why it is that sexuality is perceived as outside human society, outside of human activities or taboo. Why do we hide and decry our sexualities, turn them into vileness.

The erotic seems to have been placed at the juncture of these competing categories of High art and pornography. Of course, how we define eroticism is to one's own view and acceptance of sexuality. I think that eroticism is also how we as people, can live vicariously through that art which depicts sexual activities, either openly or in a less obvious way. As i can see, both the erotic and pornography have certain common bonds, so how to tell ?

Is an erect penis porno or erotic art ? Well, the erection in itself speaks of arousal and active sexuality. On the other hand, it is also simply a suggestion of things to come or not, it is a view of sexuality without the before and after, the reality of it as it were. Mind you, i've not a clue why i am mentioning penises being a lesbian, but hey, it's what came to mind as an example, hehehe.

So is sexual arousal porn?, obscenity ? Or is it a form of identification of the viewer with the action which then would be eroticism.

Erotic art, for me, is an expression of my freedom to be sexual, it speaks to mental wellness. I want to say through my erotic art that it's perfectly fine to reclaim this sexuality of ours as we have other freedoms and rights. I truly think that sexuality should be visible and open in every aspect of culture and society, of course without harm to anyone not desiring it.

Today we have LGBT rights fought for and in some form, attained or in progress, same with women's rights though much still needs to be done in that arena. As a feminist woman, i do denounce the pornography that harms women, that brings them down and attempts to objectify them. The pornography that seeks to so visually and violently expose every nook and cranny of females. For me, pornography is the oppression of women and their bodies. If a work of art turns women's bodies into what men want them to look like then that is obscene because of the spirit of it's intention which becomes manifest visually.

Though i do call myself feminist, i will not make any attempt to delineate or create or enable blanket terms other than what i've said in the above paragraph. To make and try to enforce, to make that distinction between what is acceptable and unacceptable is not my role as an artist or as a feminist. Maybe if we, females and women, have more say about our bodies within the context and discourse of art and pornography, we could then see a new day where freedom from oppression and violence is a natural occurrence of societal and culture life. I think, at least for myself as a woman, it is vital for me to explore and speak my view about the female erotic and i encourage all my sisters to give free reign ( without harm ) to their sexualities and sense of love and healthy enjoyment of their bodies.

in erotic thoughts,

Circe

Petals

2008-09-24T20:03:00.003-04:00

Petals

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

12" x 16"

$ 400. can.

Unfolding like the petals of a flower to present the beauty within. One of a series of pieces inspired by The Vagina Monologues.

S'ouvrir comme les pétales d'une fleur et dévoiler la présence de la beauté intérieure. Cette oeuvre fait partie d'une série inspirer par Les Monologues du Vagin.

FGM - Female Genital Mutilation

2008-09-24T19:57:00.005-04:00

Female genital mutilation / Mutilation génitale femelle

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

9" x 12"

$200. can.

The cries and screams issue forth from ignorance and violence brought about by fear of females.

Les cris et les pleurs émanent de l'ignorance et la peur des femmes.

Road in St-Alphonse-Rodriguez, birches

2008-09-24T19:52:00.005-04:00

Our private road / Notre chemin privé

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

16" x 20"

collection N.M. Vleminckx

Food for thought

2008-09-24T19:49:00.007-04:00

Food for Thought / À faire penser

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

20" x 30"

$ 1, 200. can.

Feed upon me yet feed upon all of me, drink of my mind, my body and my heart. Woman and all females, essential to the survival of humanity.

Nourris-toi de moi, en totalité, étanche ta soif en t'abreuvant de ma pensée, mon intelligence, mon corps et mon coeur. Les femmes, absolument essentielles pour la survie de l'humanité.

Female masculinity ( Butch )

2008-09-24T19:28:00.007-04:00

Female masculinity / Masculinité féminin

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

12" x 24"

$ 600. can.

Like the regal lion, the power and unique energy of the female Butch is unmistable, even when nude.

Tour comme le roi Lion, la puissance et l'énergie unique de la femme Butch est inmanquable, même lorsque nue.

Fossil

2008-09-24T19:23:00.002-04:00

Fossil / Fossile

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

20" x 30"

$ 1,200. can.

Elegance

2008-09-24T19:19:00.006-04:00

Elegance / Élégance

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

24" x 36"

$ 1,700. can.

Her majesty and beauty are gifts to the dance of love.

Sa majestueuse beauté est le cadeau accordé à la danse de l'amour.

Conseil des Arts du Québec and me

2008-08-07T08:51:00.002-04:00

Yesterday the 6th of august, i brought two of my paintings that were selected by the Conseil des Arts du Québec to their offices so that they could see them in advance and be sure of their choice as well as because they needed all artists to drop their art of at one location.

Anyhoooo, i was very well received, their energy was really a lot of fun and light. Jennifer is what the artworld needs, someone who LOVES art. I also met Jacques, who helped me with my pricing and also totally boosted my sense of worth as an artist, thanks to both Jennifer and Jacques. This morning, i wake up knowing i've moved along on my path as a professional artist.

Circé

Petals ll

2008-08-02T11:23:00.003-04:00

Petals ll / Pétales ll

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

24" x 36"

$ 1,750.. can.

Like a flower opening to the sun, a woman's vagina opens to touch, warmth, tenderness, vitality, understanding and love.

Tout comme la fleur s'ouvrant au soleil, le vagin d'une femme s'ouvre au toucher, à la chaleur, la tendresse, la vitalité, la compréhension et l'amour.

Provocation - Sensuality and Eroticism

2008-08-02T10:17:00.003-04:00

Two of my paintings have been selected to be part of the international art event called; Provocation - Sensuality and Eroticism in Montreal, Canada. It will be held at; 2111 boulevard St-Laurent, 5th floor from the 12th of august to the 17th. This is at the famous " Just for Laughs Museum ".

The vernissage is on the 14th, from 5pm to midnight. Come meet me and enjoy the exhibit.

12th to the 16th; 2pm to midnight

17th; Noon to 6pm

entrance fee: $10.

Provocation - Sensualité et Érotisme

2008-08-02T10:06:00.004-04:00

Deux de mes peintures ont étés retenues pour l'exposition d'envergure international intituler; Provocation - Sensualité et Érotisme qui aura lieu du 12 au 17 août 2008 au Musée Juste pour Rire, 2111 boulevard St-Laurent au 5ième étage, Montréal.

Il y aura environs 170 artistes de 20 pays en plus de 30 artistes du Québec. Le vernissage est le 14 août, de 17h à 24h. Venez me rencontré.

12 au 16: 14h à 24h

17 août: 12h à 18h

coût d'entrée: $10.

ArtQuid.com

2008-06-27T14:48:00.002-04:00

my sister, my muse, my model

2008-06-22T08:06:00.003-04:00

charcoal on paper

13 1/2 " x 17 "

property of Vic H.

unframed

pastel demonstration

2008-06-13T22:06:00.001-04:00

me doing a demonstration of pastel portraiture during a group exhibition.

Cycle

2008-06-13T22:02:00.004-04:00

Lunar cycle / Cycle lunaire

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

16" x 20"

$ 600. can.

Red tide, flows, life, blood, pain, pleasure, death...

The power of the female divine.

La marée rouge, qui jaillit, la vie, le sang, la douleur, le plaisir, la mort...

Le pouvoir du divin féminin.

Young girl and dolls

2008-06-13T21:40:00.004-04:00

Young girl sleeping / Jeune fille endormie

pastel on paper /pastel sur papier

10.5 " x 15.5 "

collection Mme. et Mr. Laramée

Can you see me now?

2008-06-13T21:29:00.009-04:00

Revelation / Dévoilé

pastel on paper / pastel sur papier

12 1/2" x 17 1/2"

$ 275. can. ( framed-encadré )

Discovering a wonderful source of power and pleasure.

A la découverte d'une merveilleuse source de puissance et de plaisir.

Access denied / Accès interdit

2008-06-13T21:29:00.008-04:00

pastel on paper

17 1/2" x 23 1/2 "

wood frame and glass

donated to the Women's Support Network of York Region, Ontario

Pin-up art

2008-06-08T14:42:00.002-04:00

I'm in a mood for something more of myself, i mean that i want to create art that comes from me, that allows for more creativity on my part.

Since i totally love symbolist art, i thought i'd try and combine it with my painting style and see where that brings me. Also, i really want to paint pin-up art. I have already started a couple of portraits with the pin-up genre in mind and i'm feeling good about it so i'll eventually post the pics.

Marilyn M.

2008-05-27T08:17:00.002-04:00

Marilyn M.

pastel on paper / pastel sur papier

18" x 24"

property of / propriété de :

J. Faria

Sap collecting / Collection de sève à St-Ambroise de Kildare

2008-05-27T08:14:00.006-04:00

Sap collecting / Collection de sève à St-Ambroise de Kildare

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

10" x 12"

$ 250. can.

Artist Statement

2008-05-21T12:36:00.003-04:00

My artwork looks at the female body, mind and sense of empowerment. I enjoy creating erotic art and this in turn allows me to comment on social, political, cultural and sexist ways women and all females are perceived. I attempt to speak on the violence done to women as well as the beauty of femininity. My work tried to reproduce familiar concepts of the nude and the female erotic while inserting new elements such as political and anti oppression narratives, commentaries and symbology.

I create my erotic art from the inside out, as a woman born with a biological condition called transsexuality, i have had to come into my own as a female through much hardships. My path towards re-claiming my femininity and sense of womanhood was a struggle, and emotional pain, a constant reminder of society’s misogynistic and sexist attitude towards women in general and specifically towards females such as i. I think that my life experiences have given me a unique perspective, one that i try to share with all. I am passionate on many issues but i am generally even more vocal when it comes to women and the treatment they are sadly often subjected to because of abusive and oppressive stereotypes and prejudices born of patriarchy.

For the past three years, my art has involved the creation of a celebration of females in all their multifaceted splendor and beauty. I have put over a year in painting and drawing a series of pieces just about vaginas, because i felt they deserved celebrating and respect and honor. I have had a few shows in which my vagina paintings were showcased. Of course, i was influenced by plays, books, friends and especially from the fact that i had to have corrective surgery in order to finally have my own vagina. I had to work a lot and go through so many hurdles and barriers to finally be in a position to have my body aligned with my brain to be whole. It is probably clear by now that i am a feminist and that i do what i can to empower everything female.

I am also a queer woman, known for my penchant for the female erotic for which i give no apology, i simply love females. I think that speaking out through my art is what i should be doing. I am influenced by all the great women of the past and present, be they known by all or admired and known only to me.

I draw and paint in a realistic style and my training as an artist consists of five years in a private art school in Montreal, Canada, otherwise i am self taught. It is important to me that i broach topics deemed taboo or not for polite company as i take comfort and satisfaction from all the artists of the past who created erotic art. I have had paintings in various Erotic Art Shows and Events, in Canada as well as in the USA. Many will note that my paintings are somewhat reminiscent of the old masters, this is because i have always had a profound love of their work.

My art has won awards and has found homes in many private collections. I live in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, surrounded by beautiful mountains and lakes, my two cats Violet and Corky and the love of my life.

Circé

Project idea and call out

2008-01-18T08:45:00.000-05:00

Hi,

Since coming back to my art, i've been concentrating my efforts on producing a series of pieces around the idea of vaginas, more specifically, the voices of women through the vagina. What can i say, i am SO in awe of Eve Ensler's * Vagina Monologues * and what it says to me as a woman that i just had to lend my voice.

Soon, this present project will be completed and i'm already looking at creating another. I'm hoping to assemble a group of women interested in putting together an Art Show. I don't yet have all the details but i would like to make it so that a small percentage of all sales went to a Women's Shelter. Any women artist who come across this blog, please do not hesitate in contacting me as i'm certain we can work together to bring this idea to fruition. For the sake of understanding; i'm in the province of Quebec and would work with any woman ( any self-identified woman ) in the province or in Canada.

Joëlle

In my new studio

2008-01-06T23:47:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been about two weeks or so since i've been in a position to paint given that we just moved in and had sooooooo much boxes to unpack and get an electrician to come by and install four sets of neons for my studio.

Today, i finally took the day to resume painting, what joy. I worked on two paintings that i had begun before our move and started a new pastel. As soon as they are done, i will post them on this blog.

I'm thinking that i might stop the series on vaginas at ten or twelve because i'm simply not sure what will become of them once the exhibit in march is over; will they sell, will they collect dust, lol.

I'm starting to go out for short walks and am taking photos of the landscape around our mountain home, the area is simply breathtaking with it's mountains, forests and lakes. I'm told that tourists invade the area every summer and so i'm thinking it would be nice to have some landscape pieces ready.

Lert me hear from you, what you think of my art, what you'd like to see and any comments about art in general.

Circe

Mon blog en Français

2007-12-28T21:28:00.000-05:00

Voici l'URL de mon blog d'art en version francophone.

L\\\' art de Circé

Yes, i do commissioned pieces.

2007-12-27T19:23:00.000-05:00

If you would like to have a portrait of yourself or that of a loved one done, it only takes a good photo or maybe, if you are not too far from me, for me to take some pics and then work from one to create a painting that will not only last a very long time but that will be a cherished keepsake.

Asides from those pieces posted on this blog that already belong to private collectors ( clients ), all my artwork shown here are for sale. I am willing to consider almost any subject matter and i can work in graphite, sanguine, pastels and oils. Landscapes, still lives, nudes, portraits are topics i enjoy painting so don't be reticent, contact me and order your original painting.

sincerely,

Circe

About the vaginas.

2007-12-27T10:08:00.000-05:00

Over the past few months, i have begun work on a series of pieces directly inspired by Eve Ensler's * Vagina Monologues *. For me, it has always been important that my art reflect life. At this time in my life, i feel the impulse to speak out against all forms of violence and specifically violence towards women and young girls.

This is my way of showing the great variety of voices of women and their experiences.

I have exhibited for a month ( mid november to mid december '07 ) in the context of the McGill university's " VaginArt " event and will also be holding a one day Gala of my work during the showing of the production of the Vagina Monologues in Newmarket, Ontario on march 3oth, 2008.

If my vagina got dressed, she would wear ... / Si mon vagin s'habillait, elle porterait ...

2007-12-27T10:02:00.001-05:00

If my vagina got dressed, she would wear... / Si mon vagin s'habillait, elle porterait ...

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

16" x 20"

$400. can

( framed / avec cadre )

The caress / La caresse

2007-12-27T09:58:00.002-05:00

The caress / La caresse

pastel on paper / pastel sur papier

16" x 20"

collection of Mr. Frank Mondeose

Still life / Nature morte

2007-12-27T09:56:00.001-05:00

Still life, old objects / Nature morte, vieux objets

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

9" x 12"

private collection / collection privée

Mature nude / Nue mature

2007-12-27T09:51:00.001-05:00

Mature nude / Nue mature

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

24" x 36"

private collection / collection privée

The Muse, France P. / La Muse, France P.

2007-12-27T09:50:00.001-05:00

The Muse, France P. / La Muse, France P.

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

18" x 24"

private collection / collection privée

Young woman sleeping / Jeune femme endormie

2007-12-27T09:49:00.001-05:00

Young woman sleeping / Jeune femme endormie

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

24" x 24"

private collection / collection privée

Beached mermaid / Sirène échouée sur plage

2007-12-27T09:48:00.001-05:00

Beached Mermaid / Sirène échouée sur plage

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

16" x 20"

private collection / collection privée

A young Greek prince / Jeune prince Greque

2007-12-27T09:45:00.001-05:00

A young prince / Jeune prince

oil on canvas / huile sur toile

16" x 20"

private collection / collection privée

Circe? Is that the enchantress in Greek Mythology ?

2007-12-27T08:20:00.000-05:00

No, no magical powers here that i'm aware of, heheh. Actually this is part of my name, as in Joëlle-Circé but as an artist i prefer using Circe as my signature.

I began drawing at a young age and i've always enjoyed doing so. I would often win prizes for my drawings and sculptures in grade school and High-School which sometimes earned me my classmates ire. I really began my career as an artist back in 1981. I took classes at a private art school and stayed with them for 5 years, even becoming a drawing and painting instructor for a while before leaving to discover who i was artistically and on a more personal level.

I participated in numerous group art exhibits and was noticed by art dealers and especially private buyers. I quicly established a clientele for my portrait paintings and all was well in the world. In the mid-nineties, i left my art to deal with personal issues and only recently reagained all of my passion for drawing and painting and i can sat that i haven't lost any knowledge or talent. I enjoy sharing my perceptions of my surroundings, my interests and life in general.

I will be showing my art in this blog, so come by often to see what' s new.

sincerely,

CIrce