Jean-Luc Godard
Website: artoflamp.com
Email: sales@artoflamp.com
Studio location: Southwick, Mass.
Member of Granby Artists since: 2015 and also member of the Agawam Artist Association.
Jean-Luc Godard is a self-taught artist who uses wood and metal to make sculptural lighting with organic designs and futuristic concepts. Born and raised in France, he moved to the United States in 1990.
His signature work includes sculpted nature-inspired elements, influenced by his surrounding environment and his everyday experiences. By focusing on technique and materials, Godard tries to approach his work in a simple, yet elegant way, involving the viewer in a way that is sometimes physical and he believes in the idea of function following form in a work. He has received local awards and his work has been in local juried shows and galleries, including the upcoming Rhinebeck Craft Festival.
What inspired you to become an artist? What inspires your art?
I always wanted to create. Not happy with just making things, a friend opened my eyes on the world of art and its infinite possibilities.
Does Granby have an influence on your art?
Yes, Granby always had an influence on my work. I love nature and most of my work can attest of it. The GAA also had a deep influence on my work, all the creative energy from the many artists in the association do influence my work in terms of techniques and medium.
Tell us about a satisfying art accomplishment you have had.
I can’t speak of any particular piece, but going to shows with new collections and seeing people connecting to my work is definitely where I find most of my sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
Does your art try to relay a message? If so, what?
I look at my art as conversational pieces. I want people to wonder how it works or how I made it. Mixing my engineering background with art has been my real breakthrough, by being able to design complex objects, but yet making them look simple in appearance.
What is your most exciting aspect of being an artist?
The freedom of expression. I don’t feel I have any boundaries except my own imagination. I just look around me, nature, all tools in my shop, shapes around me . . . all that is food to fuel the passion I have to create the one of a kind.
Do you have any specific goals for your art in the next few years?
To create new collections in my ever-evolving art exploration and to always make works for the whole spectrum of buyers. I don’t want to make art that most people cannot afford. Everyone should be able to have a little piece of art in their life.
William C. Scheel
Medium: Abstract painting
Member of Granby Artists since: 2017
Although my art has no particular aspect relating to my having lived in Granby for over 30 years, Granby flows through my veins in just about all ways—gardening and brightly colored flowers are two of them.
My art is entirely random, so although I glean color inspirations from the flowers growing around me, the substance of blowing water-based house paint around a canvas using an air compressor is 90 percent random and 10 percent skill. Nevertheless, it is great fun; and I do it only because I have fun. I have no interest in selling my art.
I’ve been doing woodworking and blasting with my pancake compressor the entire time I’ve been an exhibiting member of GAA and for years before that.
At least some of the painting techniques I use are, I believe, unique although I acknowledge a deep debt to Jackson Pollack’s wand waving. In fact, I’ve not met any artist that uses an air compression at 90 psi! Everything I do is home-grown. I’ve never attended formal art classes.
For me, Granby Artists Association is a fellowship of local artistic talent. Those talents cover a very broad and impressive spectrum. I am continually delighted with being able to occasionally rub shoulders with my fellow artists during GAA sponsored gatherings and meetings.
Despite a seeming lack of professional qualifications, I venture to guess that I still have as much fun with my art as others. The kids to whom I’ve introduced the compressed air painting technique are a joy to watch. If it’s messy (and air compressor art really is) kids of all ages love it. Just like me!
Very seldom do I get asked whether I have goals or ambitions for this art form. Were that question ever to pop up, the answer is nope. In my judgment, to be an artist is to be. Besides, as those who know me would add: Scheel prefers computer programming to wood sculpting and painting—and he’s probably better at the former than the latter!
