IN THE STUDIO WITH ALAIN PICARD

“Brothers” wins Best in Show

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:09:19 -0400

I met these two charming boys while visiting the village of Ruhengeri, tucked away in the northern hills of Rwanda. This lush, beautiful tourist destination is best known for the mighty silverback gorillas that live in the foothills of the mountains nearby. I was serving with World Relief, along with a group of young people from our church. These two brothers lingered around the worksite as we came alongside members of the local community in building a clay brick house for one of their elderly. I remember distinctly how the boys were so eager to help by carrying the large clay bricks to us throughout the day. They were such a wonderful example of a willingness to carry each other’s burdens. Looking at the young boy in this painting being carried upon the back of his older brother, it’s a powerful reminder to me of the need to carry each other’s burdens, and I hope it inspires you as well. To see more of this series of Rwanda paintings entitled “Reflections of Hope”, visit my website.
http://www.picardstudio.com/portfolio.rwanda.html

Demonstrating at The Met Museum

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:38:50 -0400

Monday, July 25, 2011 was a day to remember. I was invited by Marjorie Shelley to attend, “A Scholar’s Day Workshop”, held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City during the exhibition, “Pastel Portraits: Images of 18th-Century Europe”. Marjorie is the Sherman Fairchild Conservator in Charge, Department of Paper Conservation, MMA, and the Co-Curator of this stunning pastel exhibition. She asked me to execute a portrait in pastel before a select audience of invited guests. Among the list of 30 or so distinguished participants were curators and conservators from The Met Museum of Art, the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Yale Center for British Art and Yale Art Gallery, the Morgan Library and Museum, and the Frick Collection, as well as art dealers from Christie’s Auction House, private collectors, and independent scholars.
I arrived at The Met on 82nd Street to check in and view the exhibition in the morning, when suddenly I found myself surrounded by exquisite pastels created by some of the finest French, Italian, German, American, and Swiss pastel portrait artists of the 18th Century. The day began with a moderated discussion on the works of Rosalba Carriera, the enormously gifted Italian woman-artist. Next, our attention turned to the ravishing works of Maurice Quentin de La Tour, and his preparatory face sketches. The morning agenda finished with a discussion on the pastels of Charles Antoine Coypel, who’s works were prominently displayed at the entrance to the exhibition- precisely where I’d be demonstrating just after lunch. During the discussion, Katharine Baetjer, Curator, Department of European Paintings at the Met and co-Curator of this exhibition, challenged the group with her declaration, “I don’t think Coypel was a very good painter at all. Thoughts?”
I had the privilege of meeting and dialoguing with conservators from Yale and The Met during lunch. Conservators, I discovered, make wonderful conversation, as they enjoy discussing the practice of art making, and all the varied materials employed in the process. I ate sparingly though, as the big moment was rapidly approaching.
The portrait model arrived toward the end of the lunch break, my ravishing friend Dushyanthi. We escorted her into the museum and returned to the gallery space in preparation for the demonstration. Dushyanthi sat in the model’s chair while I fiddled with the lighting and pose until all was just right. And suddenly, the moment had arrived. I looked down once more at the words printed on the Scholar’s Day Workshop schedule;
“2:00 p.m. Executing a Portrait in Pastel, artist demonstration and discussion with Alain J. Picard”.
Fifteen years of pushing pastels on paper suddenly culminated in this one moment, before this rarified audience, who would collectively judge whether my decision to become an artist had proven to be wise or foolish. The ever-gracious Marjorie Shelley read my biography by way of introduction and I stood to my feet. The rest, as they say, is history.

During the demonstration, the audience looks on as I develop the portrait.
The portrait seemed to paint itself as I dialogued with the now stimulated audience. Conversation spanned topics as varied as the unusual requests of portrait clients to why I don’t sit while I paint (which apparently was the more gentlemanly thing to do in 18th Century Europe). There were moments when the audience was so riveted to the act of creation that I could somehow feel their gaze fixed upon the emerging image. It was a sheer delight, and one I will remember forever. By God’s grace, I managed to produce a solid portrait in just under two hours while responding to questions and remarks from the audience. Katharine Baetjer, who had publicly disparaged the work of Mr. Coypel before lunch, seemed most pleased with the fact that I could actually talk and paint at the same time. This, she declared, was something any real portrait artist must be able to do in order to entertain the sitter while painting them.
It was a day to remember, a day when I got to paint alongside some of history’s finest pastelists, under the scrutiny of the art world elite, and live to tell. I’ll let you judge whether the resulting portrait was worthy of the halls it was created in. I happen to like it very much, and it garnered a smile from the inimitable Katharine Baetjer.

SUMMER IN NANTUCKET

Wed, 25 May 2011 21:47:25 -0400

I’ve been painting up a fresh batch of oil and pastel paintings in preparation for a summer exhibit in Nantucket. Meridian Galleries will be hosting this new show of mostly water scenes, sunsets, and marshes, with an emphasis on the brilliant effects of light flickering upon the water.

PASTEL 100 COMPETITION

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:29:22 -0400

My portrait of Lulu was published in the April 2011 issue of The Pastel Journal. The painting won an Honorable Mention award in the Portrait & Figure category of this year’s Pastel 100 Competition. The work is stunning in this 12th annual show. Here’s a link to the magazine online:

http://www.artistsnetwork.com/pasteljournal

Grit and Grace

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:10:03 -0500

I was commissioned to paint a view of the lush, beautiful green found at the center of Westminster School in Simsbury, CT. This painting would be a parting gift from the administration to their retiring Headmaster who had served the mission of this prestigious school so faithfully- a mission conveyed by their motto, “Grit & Grace”.

The view of the landscape chosen for the painting was the Headmaster’s favorite view from his parsonage on campus. The two buildings seen across the green reveal to me this community’s grounding in tradition, conveyed by the old-world architecture on the left, as well as their reach into the future alluded to in the newly-built Academic Center on the right. It’s a stunning campus and an impressive culture of education and excellence. I am honored to have contributed my creativity to this distinctive community of learning. May we all aspire to a way of life which is marked by “Grit & Grace”.

Happy and Charlotte

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:34:35 -0500

As a commissioned portrait artist, I have the privilege of meeting so many wonderful families. Most recently I stepped into the lives of this unlikely pair- Happy the Bernese Mountain Dog and his sensational sidekick, Charlotte. These two were as thick as thieves, and the goal of the portrait was to celebrate the special relationship they share. Portraits can to tell so many different stories. This one is about a beautiful four year old girl and her doting canine companion. I’m still amazed how much a moment can reveal. The old adage holds true, “a picture is worth a thousand words”.

A Portrait Demonstration

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:10:02 -0500

This portrait study was created on Friday, November 5, at a portrait demonstration with the Canton Art Association in Canton, MA. The model for the portrait was the daughter of a very fine painter named Susan Kelley. Her name was Erin. This young woman sat graciously for two hours with no break, and barely moved a muscle! For the record, I did ask Erin if she’d like to take a break and stretch, but the staunch professional declined my offer. It was amazing. I had a wonderful time sharing my process with the art group while developing this pastel study, and I really love the outcome of the portrait.

Many thanks to you Erin, for your extraordinary perseverance in the model’s chair. I declare you to be my 2010 Model of the Year!

From the Heart

Wed, 8 Sep 2010 16:51:03 -0400

The October issue of Pastel Journal features the work of four artists creating “Portraits From the Heart”, as the article is aptly titled. I’m honored to have my Rwandan portraits sit beside some of today’s finest portrait and figural pastelists. And I’m truly stunned by the generosity of the editor to share so much of the story that motivated the series of Rwandan paintings I’ve titled, “Reflections of Hope”. No More Tears is the most recent installment in this series.

The young girl in this painting was living with her mother and grandmother when I met them. Her grandmother is one of the many women who was systematically victimized during the genocide by known AIDS carriers, a strategy of war that caused the virus to spread dramatically among women in Rwanda as a result. I created this portrait to plead the case for all children around the world. Love, safety and provision. These are gifts that all children deserve, regardless of where they live- be it Rwanda, Haiti, New Orleans or your own hometown.

CHILDLIKE PLAY

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:38:02 -0400

My son Lucas is three years old. He’s a moving target to say the least, overflowing with boundless energy and life. Lucas has that rare ability to fully engage in each moment, and bring the full spectrum of human emotion to each discovery he makes. Here we find him wielding a big paintbrush and the finest watercolors with absolutely no reservation (or even clothes for that matter).

Lucas is teaching me what it looks like to live and create without the binding restraints of fear and performance, just pure delight in the process.

I’m reminded of a passage in the Scriptures from the gospel of Matthew where Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Thanks for teaching your dad what childlike play really looks like, Lucas. You’ve opened a doorway for me to experience that same wonder once again in my own art and life.

You’re the greatest!

My Dad

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 23:34:33 -0400

I painted a portrait of my dad this year for the very first time. It was father’s day, and I thought it would be a great way to celebrate the occasion together. We had a fantastic time in the studio sharing conversation and art. My dad has always been a tremendous supporter of my decision to be an artist, and I’m very grateful for his encouragement. The portrait was his Father’s Day gift. I really like the way it came out, it feels just like dad’s looking back at me.

Thanks for a giving me a wonderful life, dad, you’re the greatest!

Best Portfolio Award

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:21:58 -0400

I had the incredible honor of winning the Best Portfolio Award at this year’s Art of the Portrait Conference in Washington D.C. Well over six hundred portrait artists came together to share ideas, learn from the best in the industry, and compete for top awards. Here’s a picture of the cover, and a spread from the inside as well. It’s amazing to consider that today’s technology allows me as an artist to produce beautifully bound books on demand for the display of my paintings.

Thinking of Evelyn

Wed, 20 May 2009 09:57:53 -0400

In 2005 I traveled to Rwanda with World Relief, a christian relief and development organization empowering the local Church to serve the most vulnerable around the globe. This trip captured my heart, and catalyzed a series of paintings depicting the beauty of the Rwandan people amidst the brokenness caused by the horrific genocide of 1994. Since then I have been supporting World Relief in their life-changing work with the people of Rwanda. This painting of a beautiful Rwandan girl named Evelyn is the most recent in my collection. I offer you the opportunity to take part in this restorative work through the purchase of my original painting, entitled “Captivating”. Please contact me for purchase inquiries.

I will contribute 40% of the proceeds from the sale of this painting to World Relief to support their child development program in Rwanda.

Click here to view the entire collection of Rwanda paintings on my website.
Click here to learn more about the work of World Relief in Rwanda