light painting

Written by Hermann & Audrey friend Stephanie Cloutier, freelance writer & photographer

Portraiture with moving light is another style added to Steve Carty’s expanding repertoire of images.

Having experimented with light painting before, Carty recently collaborated with Toronto artist Jon Todd. Creating light streaks into fine art, Carty was able to combine his interest in motion with photography, while bringing to life Todd’s visually complex cast of characters.

“I was thinking of Picasso and his portraits,” says Carty. “I told Jon about the idea and he was eager to do it.”

Todd is best known for his pop surrealist work, mixed media pieces that combine various styles such as Asian, Mexican and street art. His work has garnered a steady following in Toronto, Montreal and Los Angeles. Creating characters with moving light was a new medium for Todd to play with.

“It took me some time to get used to working with a flashlight but after twenty minutes, we were able to get something,” says Todd. “It was neat to see the evolution of our work over the course of an hour, of me doing my thing and Steve doing his.”

Expect to see more of Carty/Todd originals in the future. New ideas have already sprung up between these two distinctive artists, developing into a very interesting partnership.

“I’m a firm believer of each one, teach one,” says Carty. “It benefits him to get exposure and it benefits me to do more experimental portraits.”

see more of Stephanie’s work at http://stephaniecloutier.wordpress.com/

See Jon Todd’s work at http://www.jontodd.ca/