My
ScribeBy: Catherine Brennan of The Post and
Courier Staff
Originally Published on: 2/6/03
Page: Preview Section
'What is it about this simple yet haunting music that stirs the soul? One day Brownie McGhee gave me an answer, 'Man, the blues is the truth,' " says local artist Bill Blizard.
"I am giving recognition to the people who have played, sung and lived the blues for most of their lives. I offer you a view of the blues as seen through my eyes as a visual artist," Blizard explains.
Blizard uses a technique called photo-painting, which incorporates or represents the use of photographs in paintings. Blizard transforms talented blues performers into vibrant and powerful works of art.
His often large-scale paintings portray an emotional attachment to his subject and his passion for the spontaneous lifestyle of a musician is reflected in his abstract expressionistic works. Blizard's personality shines through the paintings by depicting a love of freedom and an intensity of soul in his emotionally intense themes.
"What I admire most about these people is their honesty and unpretentiousness as they continue to sing and play for the love of the blues and the belief that they are, in their own way, carrying on a tradition, explains Blizard. "They are the keepers of a legacy and understand their responsibility to the next generation of blues musicians and listeners."
Blizard began to develop his blues paintings by initially capturing photographs of his subjects.
"In the late 1900s with their permission, I began taking photographs of blues musicians during their on-stage live perform-ances," he says. "I took hundreds of pictures, never seeking a formal portrait."
He then created his own personal style of photo-painting by picking out his favorite photographs and enlarging them for use in his paintings. "I spread out the most interesting photos and imagined what they might look like if enlarged to life-size. The results morphed into grainy black, white and gray statements. To my delight, there was a certain relaxed, funky, pop-art-ish style emerging," says the artist.
Blizard adheres the enlarged photographs onto wooden panels with a collage effect and paints on his surface with thinned acrylic paints and colored pencils to emphasize and de-emphasize specific pieces of each painting.
"The brush work is purposefully kept loose in a gestural manner so as to achieve a sense of freedom and energy emitting from and around the individual blues performer and to move the viewer away from the feeling of a more formalized traditional portrait concept," explains Blizard.
Color is another important aspect of Blizard's work because his vivid and dramatic use of paints and colored pencils illuminate the life and soul of each musician.
He explains, "Color is selected for its emotional, and symbolic impact upon the viewer. It is also associated with the physical presence of 'stage lights' as they play upon the blues musician and the audience."
Blizard's love for the blues began early. "The blues clicked with me in the 1950s, just heading away from home to college and on my own for the first time."
He attended the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he received a Bachelors of Arts.
He then continued his education by receiving a master's degree from New York University in New York City.
Blizard used his extensive education to teach others how to use their artistic talents by becoming a faculty member and chairman of the Visual and Performing Arts Department at Springfield College in Massachusetts.
After 36 years, Blizard retired and moved to the Charleston area, where he continues to pursue his art. He has exhibited his work in many local shows, including a one-man show at the Charleston Visitor Center, a juried Piccolo Spoleto exhibit, and a one-man show at the Bassett Gallery in the Kershaw County Fine Arts Center in Camden. His work also has been shown extensively in local, national and international art exhibits and has been included in many private and corporate collections.
Blizard's current works will be displayed at the Charleston Visitor Center as a part of this year's 13th Annual Lowcountry Blues Bash.
The show, titled "The Visual Side of American Blues Music, Series II," will include paintings of the legendary "Drink" Small, the "Blues Doctor" of South Carolina, and many other local blues artists.
The show runs from Feb. 9-24. A reception with Blizard is planned Sunday at 1 p.m. The Charleston Visitor Center is located at 375 Meeting St. and is open seven days a week from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The event is free.
Webmaster Note: If you are interested in seeing some of Bill Blizard's work, you can see it on his web site at www.billblizard.com
My
Scribe