 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
1997
A Voyage of Insight - The World of Picard
by Chris Bennett
James Picard did not show up for our first scheduled meeting this spring. He canceled with just under ten minutes notice. I tried not to be too critical of his last minute truancy and concluded that most artists are unfamiliar with two words this writer often knows intimately, 'punctuality' and 'early morning', (Okay, three words).
After recently meeting with James and experiencing a pang of conscience, I can now say I was wrong. I have often prided myself in the fact that when deadlines are squeezing me into a corner, I can still find the ability to work into the wee hours and still function the next day on no more than a couple hours sleep and a dozen cups of coffee. James, on the other hand, reduced my pride to juvenile namby pamby when I was informed he had been without sleep for the last three days, producing five large canvases, ten watercolours, two sculptures and dozens of drawings. Not to mention spending nearly two full days with his children (daughter Rachael 10 and son Simon 5), teaching an evening workshop for the local School Board and volunteering with local disabled and underprivileged adults and children.
He is obsessed. Not just with art, but with life. Though for James there is no difference, his art is his life.
Probably one of the most passionate people I have met and definitely one of Canada's undiscovered heros.
His works are bold. Full of confidence and colour. They strike you on the head like a mallet and the image lingers like a swollen lump on your memory.
Cadmium, alizarean reds, cobalt and prussian blues and ornate ochres, his subjects are mostly people. Reading, sitting, thinking, or sleeping, they challenge the viewer and entice you to enter the world of Picard. A journey that began with many obstacles including, poverty, illness and unexpected death of peers, friends and family members and has progressed into a voyage of insight, triumph and integrity.
Despite Picard's boundless energy and his desire to become proficient at all he attempts, he is extremely kind hearted and calm, allowing his energy to focus and fuel his creativity.
Since his 1987 Outstanding Achievement Award at the New York Art Competition his awards have become many. Second place finish at the 1993 Chicago Sculpture Competition, Top Ten finalist in the Philadelphia Art Competition, Top Three finalist in the Los Angeles Sculpture Competition, and Outstanding Achievement Award at the 1996 New York Sculpture Competition. His work is also being collected across Canada, the United States and Europe.
James Picard is an artist who truly loves to create. His gift, as the late Harold Town once said, is "rare in the artworld" and hopefully his recognition and reputation will escalate and he can finally get some of the sleep he deserves and allow me to go back to my feelings of self satisfaction when a few hours sleep pushes my limits.