Martin Brouillette Canadian, b. 1971
The Joy Was Already There, 2025
pencil, acrylic and oil on canvas
48 x 72 in
121.9 x 182.9 cm
121.9 x 182.9 cm
I chose this title because it reflects a quiet truth I often experience while painting: that joy isn’t something I have to add — it’s already there, underneath the hesitation,...
I chose this title because it reflects a quiet truth I often experience
while painting: that joy isn’t something I have to add — it’s already
there, underneath the hesitation, the searching, the first pencil
marks.
Even in moments of doubt, there’s a spark that’s waiting to
be noticed, not invented.
In the studio, it’s often about recognizing when something is
working — a gesture, a color, a balance — and allowing it to stay
without overworking it. That moment of trust feels joyful in itself.
while painting: that joy isn’t something I have to add — it’s already
there, underneath the hesitation, the searching, the first pencil
marks.
Even in moments of doubt, there’s a spark that’s waiting to
be noticed, not invented.
In the studio, it’s often about recognizing when something is
working — a gesture, a color, a balance — and allowing it to stay
without overworking it. That moment of trust feels joyful in itself.