From his comfort zone, painter shares expression

When Gregg Perrenoud paints, he likes to make a point, literally. His technique is called pointillism.

Invented by French painter Georges Seurat (1859-1891), it requires a lot of patience, time and effort. It is also called “dot art” because dots, instead of strokes, are used to put paint on the canvas. Depending on what angle you look, the painting appears to be shimmering as the underlying designs become clearer.

Perrenoud begins each piece with a color field, sometimes free and abstract and sometimes sharp lines and shapes. Then, using sticks, he applies a layer of different colored dots. Many layers follow until the final dot is placed.

Though time consuming, the process is also very therapeutic. “I’m driven,” says Perrenoud, “I can’t stop. It’s what pulls me … to be creative.”

Painting has helped him through some difficult times. In 1986, Perrenoud was in the midst of a divorce and painting brought light into his world. He finished his first piece in 1987 and has done it ever since.

In 1994 he was diagnosed with cancer. Dealing with surgery and chemotherapy was trying, and when he could not sleep, he found painting to be calming.

“It takes me away to a comfort zone,” he said, “and that’s what I want to give to people who look at my pieces.”

Perrenoud thinks of his pieces as cosmic and universal and those words are included in his titles. One such piece has circles and sharp lines beneath the dots like planets and beams of light.

Cancer free for 10 years, Perrenoud says that it took a while before he was free of the fear. “Cancer is a big scary monster,” he said, “It’s only been in the last few years that I have started to really live again.” His artwork has found new life as well.

Besides his painting, Perrenoud also creatively expresses himself through nature in the landscaping business at Greenacres Nursery. Like painting with a color field of greens, he helps brighten people’s yards with trees and shrubs.

Birdbaths, planters and large tree stump carvings are included in his natural pieces. He has plans of taking over an acre at the greenhouse for bonsais and topiaries, or unusual things as he calls them.

Perrenoud admits that he’s peculiar. “I’ve been a recluse for too long,” he says. “It is time for me to explode now, artistically.” Tree stumps show the beginnings of dragons and snakes, and twisted branches are waiting for the perfect body to be attached to.

All of his works contain a common thread – survival. From the time it takes to apply hundreds of dots to the revival of trees, it is all about being alive.

A self-taught artist, Perrenoud hopes to induce a feeling of awe in those who see his work. Perhaps, in a way, his creations are parallel to life and the fragility of it, as well as its strength and will.

Friends, family, hard work and the desire to create keep him at his best, and getting better all the time.