Michel-André Bellemare, l.A.F. Signature Member of Institut des Arts Figuratifs Born in 1943 in Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, province of Québec, Michel-André Bellemare lives now in Shawinigan. He studied art with Marcel Bellerive, François Déziel and Denis Laporte. He was also in contact and appreciated opinions and hints from several painters such as Raymond Lasnier, Léo Ayot. He followed courses in visual arts, ceramics, enamels on copper, audio-visual techniques at the Shawinigan College and at the University of Québec in Trois-Rivières ( Province of Québec). But he considers himself as a self-taught artist because he worked a lot by himself on research and explored several mediums. He has been participating in the art groups "l’Atelier libre" and "l’Atelier du peintre" at the Shawinigan Art Centre, he also communicated his love for art and directed during fifteen years the art classes "Introduction to painting" for promising and enthousiastic young talents. Michel-André Bellemare also worked in a hospital for more than thirty years and devoted the twenty-five last years as a therapist in a psychiatric hospital, sharing his artistic knowledge and skills with the patients. His research and his progress in art led him to explore various art techniques. Since his first exhibition in 1966, Michel-André Bellemare has been painting and exhibiting his works on a regular basis in various art galleries and art centres. His artworks are part of several collections in Canada and abroad, including Japan. Retired since 1997, Michel-André Bellemare works now full-time as an oil painter. In 2001, he was elected as a Signature Member of Institute of Figurative Arts. Awards, Distinctions - 2008, 2006, 2005, Selected painting, Hiver au Parc, by the Children’s Aid Foundation, Toronto for reproduction on card for their Annual holiday card.
- 2006, 2005, 2004, Finalist in the national contest Rêves d’automne, Festival paysages en peinture, Baie-Saint-Paul, Québec, Canada.
- 1990, “Effets divers” (winter landscape), selected painting, by the Alcan Company and the city of Shawinigan for reproduction on card, to help financing “ La maison des jeunes “ in Shawinigan.
- 1987, First Prize in Professional Category in the contest “Peinture en liberté” sponsored by the Alcan Company
- 1978 et 1979, member of the jury in a contest for children sponsored by Fédération des Caisses populaires Desjardins
- 1968, First Prize, Painting, exhibition at the Exposition régionale de Trois- Rivières.
Internet ARTS QUÉBEC http://www.artsquebec.net/890 CENTRART http://www.centrart.qc.ca/artistes/artvisuel/mabellemare/ecran.html Media Coverage 2002 | « Michel-André Bellemare, l’ingéniosité dans l’âme», by Amélie Ménard, Magazin’art magazine, Fall 2002, no 57, pp 78-80, The ingeniousness of Michel-André Bellemare», pp 142-144 | Since 2002 | Répertoire Biennal des artistes canadiens en galeries (bilingual) Magazin’Art | | |
Art Galleries GALERIE D'ART VIGNEAULT , 535 B, Notre-Dame, Repentigny (Québec), Canada
GALERIE ARTAZO , 88, Wellington Nord, Sherbrooke (Québec), Canada GALERIE LUMIÈRE AU PINCEAU , 3221, 50e AVE, Grand-Mère (secteur Ste-Flore ) ( Québec ), Canada
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