Hello, dear friend of my essence,
As I recently celebrated my 50th birthday, I find myself glancing in the rearview mirror of my life—not with nostalgia, but with a fierce satisfaction for the path I’ve carved out. Over the past two weeks, I’ve immersed myself in updating my websites, an experience akin to flipping through an old diary, each page alive with a color, a sound, or a thought capturing a moment of creation, rebellion, or revelation. Let me tell you the story of a quiet kid from Lévis, a small town across from Old Quebec, who became a multidisciplinary artist, a philosopher, and an explorer of consciousness—a punk philosopher who laughs at conventions and dances to the rhythm of his own melody. Not bad for a guy who, at 10 years old, was scribbling comics in his corner!
The Beginnings: A Silent Dreamer with a Pencil
As a child, I was a dreamer wrapped in what I call The Great Silence—a companion that made words feel heavy. So, I expressed myself through images. At 10, I created my first comic books, stories filled with wacky heroes and bizarre worlds. By 15, my creations, signed Leou, found their way into fanzines in Quebec and even Europe. My series The Poutine Family captured the absurd humor of Quebec life with an underground twist that made readers of Safarir and Bédélirium smile (or grimace), while The Troglodytes pushed the boundaries of black-and-white optical art, playing with perception like a visual puzzle.
At 17, I picked up a paintbrush, inspired by the bold energy of Keith Haring. My canvases, later gathered in Transparence, were a dialogue between the abstract and the figurative, an attempt to make the invisible visible—emotions, ideas, the sacred. At 20, I launched Abstractions, a sprawling series of 1,500 pages of visionary comics, a nearly hieroglyphic language seeking to capture the essence of beauty. These albums, available on my Amazon, are like treasure maps for the soul—wild, unclassifiable, and vibrant with freedom. They reflect a young artist already defying norms, seeking not just to create, but to awaken.
Montreal: ‘Kola, Psychedelics, and the Quest for Meaning
At 23, after a detour through a bachelor’s in business administration (yes, I flirted with “seriousness”!), I settled in Montreal, a city that electrified my soul and of which I fell madly in love. I began writing my journal, a raw and unfiltered stream of thoughts that now forms a multi-volume saga (Journal 1996-2000 and 2001-2005 are published to date, only in French). It’s a conversation with myself—doubts, flashes of genius, wanderings—inviting readers to join the adventure if they dare.
Under the name ‘Kola, I became a singer-songwriter in the 2000s, strumming my guitar in Montreal’s bars and parks. My album #1 and open-mic nights were a rebellion disguised as joy—spaces where anyone could sing, dream, create. I wasn’t just making music; I was shouting: “Be free, dare!” You can still find those songs on YouTube, echoes of an era when I challenged the status quo with a sly smile. It was also in Montreal that I deepened my relationship with psychedelics, a gateway to awakened consciousness. Influenced by Timothy Leary’s call to expand the mind, I explored this world with curiosity and respect. These years gave birth to The Psychedelic Master, a book that doesn’t glorify substances but offers a thoughtful guide to breaking mental cages. These experiences taught me the sacredness of art, the power of altered perspectives, and the courage to embrace the unknown.
Jovialism: A Philosophy of Defiant Joy
In 2008, I crossed paths with philosopher André Moreau, the father of jovialism, a Quebec philosophy born in the 1970s that proclaims happiness as a decision, a will, not a reward. I subscribe to it 100%. From 2010 to 2015, I presided over the Jovialist Movement, hosting gatherings and a radio show. My books, like The Will to Consciousness and Le Bonheur Absolu (not yet translated), translate this vision: live free, without guilt, in harmony with your deepest desires. I discuss open romantic partnerships, spirituality, and integral intelligence—an balance between intellect, emotion, and intuition. My vision isn’t synonymous with chaos, but with shared freedom, a rejection of jealousy for a life of authentic connection.
Jovialism is my rebellion against conformity. It’s saying no to institutions, to the crushing weight of “you must.” As I wrote in my Journal 2005, “if my work inspires even a few to resist the general law with all their might, to achieve liberation, then I will have made this world more livable.” I am an immoralist in the Nietzschean sense—not bound by traditional morality, but guided by good faith, kindness, and a joyful transgression of norms. My philosophy, in the image of Nietzsche critiques societal control, but I go further with a jovial defiance, almost hippie: “Lying to institutions is respecting oneself,” I say, embodying the jovialist spirit.
The Artist-Entrepreneur: Studio Nico and Beyond
Creativity isn’t just art—it’s a way of life. In 2017, I founded Studio Nico, a communication design agency specializing in branding and visual identity. Working with clients, I create authentic and vibrant brands that reflect their essence—simple yet profound, like a daisy or a turquoise glow. My blog articles on studionico.biz, like “How to Format Your Manuscript” or “Creating an Authentic Brand Image,” share my hard-earned wisdom as an author and designer, helping others navigate the chaos of creation with clarity. Whether designing websites, coaching clients, or formatting books for Amazon, I bring the same punk energy: no frills, just truth.
My entrepreneurial side doesn’t oppose my philosophy—it’s an extension of it. I’ve always been a world-builder, whether through comics, music, or branding. My work with Studio Nico reflects my conviction that authenticity and simplicity are revolutionary in a world drowned in noise.
The Philosopher: A Student at 50
At 50, I’m a student again, pursuing a bachelor’s in philosophy at UQAM, with plans for a master’s at UdM. Aristotle said philosophy begins with wonder, and I’m more amazed than ever. My consultations with André Moreau, documented in Philosophical Consultations (a book that will be published one day), reveal my intellectual fire—confronting Kant, Berkeley’s immaterialism, and the concept of substance. I’m not there to repeat academic dogma; I challenge it, blending jovialist irreverence with rigorous thought.
I’m not a fan of political correctness or reactionaries like Paul Ricœur, whose moralism suffocates me. I align instead with thinkers like Moreau, Nietzsche, and Berkeley, who dared to rethink reality. My philosophy is one of immanence—no transcendent God, just the inner “Living God,” the fully realized self. I reject dualisms like soul and body, embracing a monism where I don’t receive being; I give it to myself without asking permission.
A Mosaic of Life
At 50, my life is a mosaic—each comic page, each song, each painting, each philosophical reflection is a piece of a larger puzzle, a grand architectonic. From the first fanzines to psychedelic explorations, from jovialist leadership to branding for spiritual entrepreneurs, each step has been a refusal to conform. My works—Abstractions, Transparence, The Psychedelic Master—are invitations to see the world differently, to find beauty in chaos. Available on Amazon in French, English, and Spanish, they are like vinyl records waiting for the perfect listener.
I am Nicolas of Montreal, a ferryman, a bridge between worlds—art and philosophy, rebellion and wisdom, silence and expression. My motto, Felicitas, regnum, sapientia (happiness, sovereignty, wisdom), remains true, with a touch of punk defiance for the road. So, friend, what do you say? Shall we grab a virtual coffee to talk about life, awakening, or how to be yourself without compromise? Take the time to explore my website to discover my books, my canvases, my vlogs, my ideas. Maybe they’ll make you laugh, think, or spark a revolution in you.
I bless you! Thank you for accompanying me on this wild adventure.
Nicolas
