Pierre Bataillard brought an abstract view of his surroundings to Bonnyville with his latest collection Dupre: Look No Further.
The Lyle Victor Albert Centre displayed Bataillard's collection of paintings for all to see on Friday, Oct. 20, and Saturday, Oct. 21.
Born in Switzerland in 1944, Bataillard became an Albertan in 1969 and has since travelled across the country putting his work on display.
This particular collection began with a pencil sketch within five kilometres of Bataillard's home. The sketch is taken very literally, before it's turned into an abstract landscape.
“What I like to do is look at something and say, ‘well I know what that looks like and I could paint that, but what else is in there?'” Bataillard told the Nouvelle.
Picking a miniscule detail on a nearby camera bag, he elaborated.
“So far, I would pick up on that little red thing on the zipper over there. I would try to stretch it, exaggerate it, and see what I could make of it.”
Other than a select few, each piece in the collection was a landscape, with colours and patterns carefully chosen to compliment each other.
Bataillard acknowledged that some may think the work is created spontaneously, but said that couldn't be further from the truth. He carefully calculates each and every detail he puts into the paintings in an attempt to catch and keep the viewer's attention.
“You have to make it look good from an artistic viewpoint. There's all the business of proportion, focal points, colours, you name it. You have to look at those things and you have to make it intriguing. You have to make it so people stop, look at it and say ‘what the heck is going on here?'” he explained.
Many of the paintings are an amalgamation of two or more of his original literal sketches. By the time they're finished, the original landscape fades into an abstract display of multiple settings and perfectly balanced colour.
The art is celebrated by many, with paintings being sold and admired across the country. While he enjoys the recognition, that's not why Bataillard picked up his brush in the first place.
With decades of experience to back his words up, he wouldn't leave Bonnyville without offering some words of advice for up and coming artists.
“It's satisfying, because you know you're on the right track. At the same time, I know there are people who don't like the work, and that's fine,” Bataillard expressed. “People like different things. How you feel about your work can't be based on people's reaction.”
