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March 2009
Who is that masked painter?
by Sarah Carson
If modernist formalism seems finally discredited, hopelessly
co-opted by the
social structures it purportedly sought to subvert, its bastard progeny
continue
to fill the galleries. We all want to see something new, but it is by
no means clear
that what we have been getting so far has any merit beyond a certain novelty.
Young painters ingratiate themselves by pretending to be in awe of history,
but
few have the integrity and desire to pursue it at all costs in search
of something
within the realm of creativity which stands the test of time.
The question is; “Are there any great artists left?”…
I, like many, have pondered this
over many a dreary glass of not quite palatable Merlot while standing
in front of
many, not quite palatable paintings. But, like rumours of a bat man flying
around
Gotham City and saving us all from the bad ones, there is indeed hope
for the art-
world… Enter the world of James Picard.
James is an anomaly. He doesn't seem to quite fit the ideals of the
stereotypical artist.
He paints because he has no choice, day or night, it doesn't seem to matter.
He avoids
most artists he meets but he does however fight the good fight and is
trying to single-
handedly save us from the bad artists who seem to lurk around every darkened
gallery
corner.
Unlike a lot on the forefront of fame, James Picard has paid his dues.
He has been
painting for as long as he can remember. Painting when nothing else mattered.
He
slept in his car at one point staving off frostbite in the winter by sleeping
inside
laundromats and stealing sheets from the dryers to use as canvas. He used
all his
money for supplies then and spent all his time honing his artistic craft
instead of
spending it on things like food, clothing or shelter. This dedication
to his creativity
shows. He is a superb draughtsman, working in any medium he chooses with
little
effort to make exquisite paintings, drawings and sculptures.
When one first meets this inconspicuous painter, one may think that he
is a former
boxer, a biker from a by gone era or even a University professor. His
chameleon-like
transformations are exactly like what it is he creates. His studio is
filled with hundreds
if not thousands of paintings, drawings and sculptures all of which, you
would think, were
created by a different artist entirely.
But that is part of Picard’s old master like charm. He does not
concern himself with the
stature of what may be happening in the present day art world. He creates
like one who
is possessed. He creates what channels through him. His life’s work
is continually changing,
evolving and growing. He pushes the boundaries and never gets too comfortable
with what
he is doing. And pushing the envelope is what it’s all about. It’s
what the art establishment
needs. This boring dribble that can be seen in the most luxurious of galleries
needs a wake
up call from this caped crusader of culture.
Picard is the hero we are wanting and it appears that he is willing
to make the sacrifice to
make it all happen. He is relentless in his quest and it has not gone
unnoticed. James is
not only being courted by some of the biggest names in the art collecting
world but he is
also being courted by some of the finest galleries as well. A sign of
the times? Let’s hope so.
Perhaps this will be not only his break, but also a break that we were
all hoping for. A
reprieve from the bleak doldrums of the art establishment who perpetuate
and rehash the
same old - same old. Keep your eyes and ears open. Soon the galleries
will be safe to enter
again. His muse fully solidified, Picard soars overhead able to leap large
canvases in a
single bound. Look overhead, it’s a Braque, it’s a Picasso…It’s
a Picard!