Alain Picard, CPS
My approach to painting is very direct. It is a process of seeing and responding. In this attitude of immediacy, I am most effective in communicating a pure and exciting response to the subject. I love to capture that fleeting moment, whether it is a rare expression revealed by the sitter, or an elusive light flickering across the hillside. In these quiet moments I find my voice, describing the grace and beauty of creation.
Alain J. Picard earned a BA in illustration from Western CT State University and went on to study at the Art Student’s League in New York City. Picard cites Sargent, Degas, and Sorolla among his artistic influences. A love of light and beauty is immediately apparent in his pastel and oil paintings. Alain’s work has been featured in such publications as The Artist’s Magazine and The Pastel Journal. He has garnered top awards throughout the Northeast in esteemed exhibitions including the Portrait Society of America, the Hudson Valley Art Association, the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists, the Connecticut Pastel Society, and the Pastel Society of America. Alain is a signature member of both the Pastel Society of America and the Connecticut Pastel Society. In 2004, The Artist’s Magazine highlighted Alain as one of 20 contemporary artists “On the Rise”. More recently he won the Best Portfolio Award at the 2009 Portrait Society of America Conference in Washington, DC. Alain lives with his wife and two sons in Southbury, Connecticut.
Publications
The Pastel Journal, October 2010
The Pastel Journal, Pastel 100 Competition Finalist in two categories, April 2009
The Pastel Journal, Pastel 100 Competition Finalist, April 2006
The Artist’s Magazine, Special 20th Anniversary Issue, January 2004
The Artist’s Magazine, September 2003
The Pastel Journal, January/February 2003
Representation
Gregory James Gallery – New Milford, Connecticut
River Road Gallery – Wilton, Connecticut
Meridian Gallery – Nantucket, Massachusetts
Portraits North – Lexington, Massachusetts
