GAÉTAN HÉBERT
PAQUETVILLE, NB.
Originally from Grande-Anse, New Brunswick, and now living in Paquetville, I have always loved drawing. In high school, I illustrated the cover of the student newspaper with various comic book characters. After a 30-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces’ aviation branch, I decided to pursue drawing more seriously. I took three private drawing classes with Sonia April, who holds a bachelor’s degree in visual arts education from the Université du Québec à Montréal.
It was during this period of learning that I took up hyperrealism and discovered the use of shadows—a simple yet crucial technique for giving drawn subjects a more realistic effect. Over the past few years, I have deepened my understanding of the chiaroscuro technique, which involves using light within shadows to create intense contrasts. My love of shadows is now fulfilled by drawing light. | Today, I am an amateur who finds a sense of relaxation and calm in this art.
Black cardboard, white pencils, stumps, and my fingers are my tools for achieving the desired effects. I use only white pencils to create the effect of a black-and-white photograph. The white highlights the subject’s details, allowing one to better appreciate its lines and volumes. I draw inspiration from facial expressions and movement to create my works.