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Article published in Le Régional July 2007.

Lachute Seen Through the Eyes of an Artist: Jean-Jacques Pharand


Jean-Jacques Pharand surprises us every year with his new paintings reflecting his childhood recollections of growing up in Quebec, Lachute in particular. He has been painting and exhibiting Quebec scenery for a number of years. In the past few years he concentrated on Lachute store fronts, interiors and back yards. His paintings are very detailed and done in vivid colours. He works from sketches that he does from his visual memory. No photos required for this artist. His paintings vary in size, from 5 inches to 48 inches wide, his canvases invite you to partake in moments he has frozen in his mind.

This year, his new collection depicts the back and front yards of Lachute following holidays people celebrate year round. Jean Jacques participates in numerous art symposiums and seminars, where he delights the public with his paintings. He is one of the artists who participates in Route des Arts since 2000 and still does. His sunny studio in the center of Lachute is a real summer treat!
 

Article published in Main Street 2004.  

On 485, Robert Street in Lachute, you can see Jean-Jacques working at his easel and when he is not there, you can almost always see a work in progress on the easel.  This is a bright, warm, welcoming art studio.  Many people walk in straight off the street to enjoy the sights within.  Jean-Jacques loves to share his visual creations with the public.  In fact, he is a wonderful ambassador for Route des Arts.

At his sun-lit studio he paints canvases from childhood memories.  Jean-Jacques has an exceptional visual memory.  I am always amazed at how he visualizes Quebecois scenes and, transcribes these onto canvas.  What’s more, he developed his own style. 

When you see one of Jean-Jacques’s paintings, you know right away that it is his.  Jean-Jacques indeed found his voice! 

 

Many of his paintings sell; but there are still examples of his previous work on the walls. 

The weathervane seen above is typical of his work until this year. 

The first time I saw his work, it took me by surprise.  In each painting, one object is pushed to the foreground, almost punching you in the face, acting as the source for these visually-memorized scenes.  Later on, some scenery appears without the central object.  Yet, there are repeating elements, such as a steep-roofed country house in the snow, wooden cases, barrels, axes, large clay pots, wild flowers growing by the fence or the shed, touching a cream-can or a maple-sap pail.

 

Despite the fact that he is a self-taught artist, he continuously evolves, trying new methods and media, as well as participating in many workshops, courses and seminars. 

 

 

When Jean-Jacques learns new techniques he applies them right away and runs with it, as is witnessed on the walls of his studio-gallery (two abstract landscapes shown on his studio wall.)

 

Jean-Jacques is very productive.  He paints large canvases and, the smallest miniatures not larger than a few inches.  He joined the Miniature Painters’ association and exhibits with them.  This year, he painted miniatures into which he applied small parts of old watches and electrical cathodes, creating both abstract and figurative images.

In addition to developing impasto, knife-applied paintings and art containing recycled objects, this year Jean-Jacques prepared a whole new collection of childhood memories of Lachute of yester year.  He started with putting his ideas and compositions in his sketch book.  The result is about 40 new paintings; all of which create an atmosphere and generate nostalgia.

This year, it is a street scene rather than a particular object that brought the memory on.  The colours are accentuated and vivid (as a child’s painting).  People who grew up in Lachute will savour these images.  I was really taken by them.  Give yourself a treat during Route des Arts July 31^st to August 8^th, 2004.  Jean-Jacques Pharand is looking forward to it.

Colours and dimensions artwork may be slightly different from the original.