Paul Fayard is a Mississippi based artist and art educator. Originally from New Orleans, Paul studied at New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, University of New Orleans, and Mississippi College where he received his Master of Fine Arts degree. For many years he was a counselor in the mental health industry where his personal contact with people of all ages, from all backgrounds and in all walks of life afforded him a unique vantage point from which to pursue his art. Although he is comfortable working in oil, acrylic and watercolor with all subject matter, drawing is his first love and portraiture his favorite subject.
Paul’s love of music and the unique character of the Crescent City inspire much of his work. His real subject matter, whether creating portraits, landscapes or still-life is light and what it reveals.
Paul has received numerous scholarships and awards and his work is included in many private and corporate collections including Butler Snow, PC, Mississippi Chemical, Regions Bank, and the Mississippi Department of Transportation. His work has been featured at the Contemporary Art Center in New Orleans, LA, the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson, MS, Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel, MS, and the Alexandria Museum of Art in Alexandria, LA, among others.
Portraits and figures are the most challenging and satisfying for me. To really fathom a person’s character, to glimpse their psyche, one must go beyond capturing a credible likeness. It might be a sidelong glance, a gesture or a stance that is crucial. It is difficult to describe in words, but we all recognize it when we see it. There is a timeless quality to the best art that transcends time and place – an almost tangible thread connecting the image and the viewer; recognition of what it means to be human. I strive to express to the viewer via the language of paint what the language of words so often cannot. My goal is to express myself with force by eliminating the extraneous, magnifying the essential, intensifying color and perspective and maximizing the undeniable psychological impact of shadow and light.
