- A gray cat slinks past a wooden house. There’s something a little intimidating attempting to describe.
Joe Boissy is an abstract painter who has developed his artistic expressions with a visual accent on calligraphic and lettering arts. In his work, the lettering is an integral part of the composition and texture, giving each piece a unique characteristic. Navigating the shapes and colors in his work is not only pleasing to the eye but conveys a combination of seduction, liveliness, and reverie.
Boissy paints with alphabet marks, letters, and a slew of calligraphic, geometric, and organic gestures. Most of his work reveals western writings, but often hints to other cultures. He studied Asian, Arabic, Hebrew, and Ancient calligraphic arts, allowing him to go beyond the boundaries of traditional western alphabets.
When asked if the writings in his paintings are meant to be read, his answer is “Yes… but not in a conventional sense. I do not seek legibility. The letters certainly mean something, but the shapes and forms of the letters are a much stronger expression in my mind than the meaning of the words composed by the letters”. When looking at his work, curiosity invites the viewer to read or decipher the writings, but gradually the letter forms, strokes and shapes take over and the mind shifts to a deeper dimension.
Starting with a quote, a story, or an ancient scripture, Boissy dives into the color world, responding to what the letters are asking for. The rest is a conversation with the canvas to strike the balance between calligraphic strokes, visual intrigue, and story telling.
Boissy works primarily with Acrylics and has also developed elaborate mixed media techniques. He seldom uses traditional brushes. Most of the painting is done with handmade tools: ruling pens, steel and felt nibs, bamboo, reeds, quills, and a variety of writing instruments. Over the years, he has developed many techniques in lettering, tagging, and stroke making using an ever-expanding arsenal of tools and methods. Using many translucent and iridescent colors, he creates elaborate textures with multiple layers of scriptures and marks, transpiring depth in color and value.
“ We (humans) created the alphabets to communicate with each other, but the letters we created can speak to us – if we let them” says Boissy. “I invite people to indulge themselves by diving into this beautiful world and surf the elegant and expressive shapes and colors”.
Joe Boissy lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
His work has been featured in many galleries and publications including Letters Arts Review, Kalligraphia, The Triton Museum, and The DeYoung Museum.