What Happens When a Painting Takes Control of the Creative Process

Yvan Genest pictured in his studio. Photo courtesy of the artist

“A painting is a door—a passage. Beyond this door, I am a fashion designer for the soul.”—Artwork Archive's Featured Artist Yvan Genest.

For over 35 years, Yvan Genest has captivated an international circle of collectors with the powerful, contemporary iconography woven into his work. 

Yvan Genest's career began on a different stage—literally. As a musician, singer, and songwriter, he spent years performing across Europe before discovering painting, which became a new and fertile ground for his boundless imagination.

His artistic evolution led him to develop a unique style rooted in what he calls contemporary mystical expressionism, blending paradoxes and spiritual insights into imagery that feels both shamanic and deeply reflective of modern life.

As a self-taught artist, he paints as a dancer dances—with both his body and spirit. His influences are diverse, ranging from Expressionism to modern free-form figurative painting.

His work is populated by expressive characters that transform throughout his process until they inhabit the canvas and take possession of it. To the artist, their final presence acts as a parable for the great mystery of our passage in life. 

Artwork Archive had the chance to chat with Yvan Genest about his creative process, the advice he has for other artists, and how Artwork Archive helps him manage his studio and art career! 

You can see more of his work on Discovery and learn more about his art practice below.

An inside look at Yvan Genest's Studio. Photo courtesy of the artist

Can you walk us through your creative process? 

I draw a lot in my notebooks, but I never copy these drawings onto the canvas.

Instead, they install a theme in my head. When I start a canvas, I paint in the spirit of the subject, but I don't draw.

I have an idea in mind, but I always lose it along the way, as if the painting itself is telling me what to do.

I often rotate the canvas—turning it over or upside down—so a subject that was horizontal can become vertical and vice versa. Many characters disappear, and new ones appear.  

I continue painting until the canvas reveals its mystery to me.

The final subject always comes as a revelation—a surprise, a discovery. Then I find the title, and add a few details—sometimes a crucial one—to give the painting its definitive direction.

 

Your characters seem to transform, come to life, and take possession of the canvas. How do you know when a character or figure has fully manifested? 

Characters often arrive when I least expect them—it's like they fall from the sky.

They often appear so suddenly that they feel like spirits descending into my studio, just to get me out of this endless battle with the painting.  

Some painters go into the studio and create a painting—not me. It’s like I'm not there when it happens. 

But in the end, the characters left on the canvas testify that I left a door open for them.  

The painting tells me what to say, while I choose the icons and symbols that help me dress the invisible.  

Yvan Genest, Equinoxe _ Equinox, 48 x 72 in, 2017

As a self-taught artist, how did you develop your own style and technique?  

I spent many years studying painters and approaching various styles. I studied art history for a long time, bathing in numerous influences. 

Over time, my style became more defined, surpassing what I had once only dreamed of doing.

It happened through solitude and concentration. What was buried deep inside me emerged when I let the painting decide for me. People might think otherwise, but that state of mind takes a long time to master.

I believe it's harder to learn how to master nothing than the opposite.

 

Were there any pivotal moments or discoveries that shaped your artistic voice?  

An important step came after ten or fifteen years of painting.

I was living in a Mexican jungle and began painting the ancestors of all the characters that populate my work, as a way to protect myself mentally from the surrounding nature that frightened me.

The characters evolved and multiplied, and the paintings became their country—the space where they appear, often with an attitude that suggests they are merely passing through.  

 

In hindsight, what’s something you wish you knew before becoming a professional artist? 

I wish I had better understood the mechanisms of the art market and the importance of what needs to be done outside the studio to develop my artistic career and establish my reputation.

From the start, I spent a lot of time working in the studio, but I was consumed for a long time by the need to survive as an artist.

A solid understanding of the market would have saved me from a lot of pitfalls.

Yvan Genest, Les visiteurs, 48 x 72 in, 2023

Was there a specific instance or time you realized you needed something like Artwork Archive to inventory your artwork and manage your art career? 

When I discovered Artwork Archive, I had been trying to manage my inventory as best I could for a while.

I often lost track of pieces and had difficulty organizing my inventory across galleries. Around that time, applications were becoming more popular, and the Internet was much more accessible.

I explored many options, but my choice fell on Artwork Archive because I found it very functional and useful for managing many aspects of my work.

It even introduced me to aspects of management that I had not thought of. It's also very visual which is useful for me who doesn't like forms.  

 

What is your favorite Artwork Archive feature?  

While I love using the platform to record my sales, my favorite feature is the Exhibitions Feature for show preparation.

It's easy to get confused and mixed up during the different stages of preparation, but this feature allows me to track and plan shipments, returns, and sales in an orderly manner.

I also really enjoy creating portfolios for clients and galleries.

Yvan Genest in his studio. Photo courtesy of the artist

What do you think is the most misunderstood aspect of being a professional artist?  

First of all, the solitude that it involves. People often consider the romantic side, without thinking about the discipline required and the long, solitary hours of work—often without results.  

Second, many people don't know much about the path an artwork takes from creation in the studio to presentation in a gallery.

They ignore the effort implied and the importance of all the participants in disseminating the works to a wide audience.

Additionally, a lot of people don’t realize that professional artists must firmly control their prices, whether in the studio or the gallery. This guarantees their professionalism and preserves the real value of their work. 

 

What advice would you give an artist who’s just starting out in their professional career?  

Paint absolutely everything that's inside you—everything in your stomach and your head—to the point of expressing your singularity. 

Only then should you ask yourself where the best place is to broadcast your creation, not the other way around. 

Yvan Genest, La nuit des magiciens, 48 x 60 in, 2019

Yvan uses Artwork Archive to stay on top of his numerous exhibitions, share his artwork with galleries and collectors, and a lot more.

You can make an online portfolio, catalog your artwork, and generate reports like inventory reports, tear sheets, and invoices in seconds with Artwork Archive. Take a look at Artwork Archive's free trial and start growing your art business.