Douglas françois girard
In search of Beauty, Mystery and the Sacred
"...It is as if the artist has created his own mythology. It is a very romantic, evocative painting, technically well balanced and very strong, formally"
- Lucinda Barnes, curator of the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art commenting on the painting "Journey"
When I finally moved to Alaska I found landscapes that truly inspired me. In the mountains of the Chugach and Talkeetna ranges, I found those cathedrals of stillness I had dreamed about.
Feeling the cool wind on my face while standing on the shores of hidden mountain lakes surrounded by jagged mountain peaks, a great sense of awe overcame me. Here at last my soul was in harmony with nature. My landscapes are created from a great love of nature’s many changing moods, and the sense of mystery and expectation that is created from ever varying colors and shapes.
Shifting clouds that create spots of light that dance over the mountains is what catches my eye. The interplay between massive rock walls, water, and low hanging clouds are also endlessly intriguing to me. A magical moment is when clouds move over and envelope the mountains, dissolving rocky peaks and shimmering water into a mysterious apparition. The swirling of mist and cloud seem to be excellent expressions of the eternal life force. Distant craggy islands, hidden lakes, misty mountains, small ponds and fog enshrouded fields are also inspirational.
Ten years after graduating I realized that I needed to unlearn many things I had learned in college. I had gathered some bad painting habits that were getting in the way of communicating what I wanted.
I struggled for a long time to find myself...to find what was truly my own.
I resolved to enter a period of self learning. I studied the art and methods of the old masters especially the Venetians, the Pre-Raphaelites, the Symbolists and Odd Nerdrum. Using a modified Venetian technique I learned how to build a painting in layers. Reading Odd Nerdrum's writings on Kitch fueled my rebellion against my art training.
Skill and technique must always be the slave of meaning. The great thing about painting is that it is a never ending intellectual struggle to always learn and improve, but without meaning, without an inner spirit a painting is nothing. Enough with irony, nihilism and cleverness. Painting should not be a circus act.
ITALY
In 2013 I traveled to the Dolomites, in northern Italy, in search of the mountains, magical forests, architecture, history, myths and especially the sacred sites I had read about. I explored the landscape, camping every night and drawing and painting during the day. During my journey I painted more than 60 studies and took over 6000 photographs. This was a real turning point in my art and gave me the experience of the romantic, mysterious landscape I had dreamed about for decades. All the pieces had come together. You can see a full portfolio of my sacred paintings here
BIRDS
My artwork of birds is created from a great love of the many changing moods of nature and the sense of mystery and expectation that is created from ever varying colors and shapes. On my many walks I have rejoiced in the decorative quality of nature which inspires my illustrations. My goal is to make each illustration a poem of color, light and form that captures the essence of my inspiration. Birds are as fleeting and mysterious as mist and cloud that can quickly appear and just as suddenly disappear. Our feathered friends are also symbols of the mysterious, eternal life force and a connection with the spiritual path. The act of creating the Celtic/Norse inspired knot work that you see in some of my work is my way of connecting with this spiritual path. Now, thanks to my wife, I view birds as highly symbolic and life enriching. The experience of being in their presence is an almost religious event. I hope I can share some of this delight with others that may feel the same way.
MYTH
I have been fascinated with fairy tales and myths since I was a young child. Stories of dragons, damsels, and heroes that my father read to me always captivated my imagination. One particular childhood book, about Siegfried, was illustrated by a long-forgotten Italian illustrator. The images he created have influenced me more than any other artist I have ever seen. His work put me in an otherworldly dimension similar to Arnold Boeklin and other symbolist painters of the late 19th century. I think that is what ancient myths and fairy tales do; they put one in mythic time. A time that is eternal and harmonizes with people that have come before. These tales speak about ideas beyond the here and now, beyond politics and the mundane. More importantly, they open our eyes to the magical. The crushing weight of modernity has largely vanquished people's sense of wonder and magic regarding our world. My paintings are an invitation to find one's way back to the magic of life and nature.
ARTIST STATEMENT
The crisis of our times, as I see it, has been the desacralization of the earth. The great destructive, unrelenting machine of modernity treats the earth and humans as commodities: how efficiently can they be exploited, used up and thrown away. Everything is temporary and constantly changing in the endless drive for more profits. My paintings focus on ideas opposite to these. Man must be seen as an integral part of the earth, living in harmony with its laws. The landscape and man both have a spiritual meaning beyond their materialistic forms. I believe in a spiritual outlook that sees the earth as sacred and rejoicing in its beauty as a religious act. The permanence of the endless cycles of nature is to be acknowledged and respected.
For years I have been exploring and painting the mountains near my home. I have been seeking those moments of ecstatic drama, mystery and the sublime that nature provides for the inquisitive. My landscape paintings try to capture those moments. At the same time I have been painting the figure, especially the dancing figure. I am drawn to movement as the expression of the life force. The swirling of mist and cloud or a dancer flying through the air seem to be excellent expressions of this force. My paintings intend to combine the landscape and figure in a cohesive synthesis of movement and emotion. The figure's movements and emotions harmonize with those of the landscape. The figure and landscape are one, both complimenting each other.
One of the central ideas of my work is that of the sacred and the seeker of the sacred. The hallowing of the land is symbolized by ritual structures that are in harmony with the surrounding landscape. The female subject of many of my paintings represents the spiritual and/or the pilgrim on a spiritual quest. Together with the mist and the shadows of the trees and the mountains the sacred will be found and nourished.
SELECTED SHOWS
2019: Solo Show, Art Shop Gallery, Homer, AK
2018: Solo Show, Art Shop Gallery, Homer, AK
2018: Group Show, Robby King Gallery, WA 2017: Group Show, Robby King Gallery, WA
2016: Duo Show, Artique, Anchorage, AK 2015: Duo Show, Artique, Anchorage, AK
2013: Group Show, International Gallery of Contemporary Art, Anchorage, AK 2012: Solo Show. Stephan Fine Arts, Anchorage, AK
2012: Group Show. Alaska Art for the Parks, Stephan Fine Arts, Anchorage, AK
2011: Solo Show. Stephan Fine Arts, Anchorage, AK
2010: Solo Show. Stephan Fine Arts, Anchorage, AK
2009: Group Show. Palmer Museum of History and Art , Palmer, AK
2009: Group Show. Alaska Art for the Parks, Paint Spot Gallery, Anchorage, AK
2008: Group Show. Alaska Art for the Parks, Stephan Fine Arts, Anchorage, AK
2007: Duo Show. Stephan Fine Arts, Anchorage, AK
2007: Group Show. Alaska Art for the Parks, Stephan Fine Arts, Anchorage, AK
2000: Solo show. Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, AK
2000: Group Show. Blaines, Wasilla, AK
1999: Group Show. Decker Morris Gallery, Anchorage, AK
1998: Solo show. Decker Morris Gallery, Anchorage, AK
1998: All Alaska Juried Art Exhibition, Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage, AK
1995: Group Show. Gallery of the Lakes, Big Lake, AK
1995: All Alaska Juried Art Exhibition, Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage, AK
SELECTED AWARDS AND PUBLICATIONS
2019: Feature article in Alaska Home Magazine: https://alaskahomemag.com/_pages/artists/girard.html
2017: Painting "Procession" published in the January 2017 Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine.
2016: “Alignment” is a finalist in the international Art Renewal Center’s 2016 Salon.
2015: “Awakening” and “Procession” are finalist in the international Art Renewal Center’s 2014/2015 Salon
2012: Recognized by the Palmer Arts Council as the Outstanding Artist of the Year at their annual dinner.
2011: Alaska Art For the Parks, “Best of Show”
2010: The Alaska State council on the Arts selected the painting " The Land beyond the Red Tundra" for purchase for The Alaska Contemporary Art Bank.
2009: Palmer Museum Purchase Award through a grant from Rasmuson Art Acquisition Fund. For the Painting ”Palmer Farm”
2008: Alaska Art For the Parks, “Best of Show” and “Peers Choice” Awards.
2007: Palmer Museum Purchase Award through a grant from Rasmuson Art Acquisition Fund. For the Painting ”Seeking the Light”
2007: Alaska Art For the Parks, “Best Figure” Award.
1998: All Alaska Juried Art Exhibition, Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage. Award for the painting “Journey”.
1998: Award for "Journey", All Alaska Juried Art Exhibition, Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage, AK. Painting was published in the Museum catalog.
1998: Prime time NBC TV interview. This interview concerned my solo show at the Decker-Morris Gallery in Anchorage, Alaska. Note that all the frames are hand made and carved to enhance each painting.
This is only visible to you because you are logged in and are authorized to manage this website. This message is not visible to other website visitors.
This means you can use the camera on your phone or tablet and superimpose any piece of art onto a wall inside of your home or business.
To use this feature, Just look for the "Live Preview AR" button when viewing any piece of art on this website!
