The Art of Michael Bedard

Susanna FosterVisit ournewest websiteKelly McGillisConnie NielsenMichael Bedard was born and raised in Windsor, Ontario (near Detroit), and finally settled in Los Angeles in 1971. He has no formal art training, but has been drawing since he was a boy.Michael Bedard is the artist who created the now world-famous Sitting Ducks poster. Sitting Ducks - first released in the late '70s, which pictured three cartoonesque personified ducks, Casually sitting poolside, complete with sunglasses and iced tea, one of them looking quizzically over his shoulder at two ominous bullet holes just deposited in the stucco behind them - is one of the most widely recognized, largest selling posters in the history of the medium. It has reputedly been seen in Cities as far reaching as Marakesh.Bedard first entered the art marketplace in 1977 with a series of strange and bizarre art prints - many of which are still in print today He has consistently topped the list of best selling posterists for nearly twenty years. Almost no other artist can make that claim.Bedard went on to introduce new characters - alligators and crows - but it has been his ducks that catapulted him to international fame, bizarre compositions with strange and provocative titles, such as First Ducks on Mars, and The Failure of Capitalism. In Japan, Bedard is thought of In almost superstar status, beginning with a series of commercials he did for Akai in the 1980's. He has had many sold out one-man exhibitions in and around Los Angeles, where he has lived since the late sixties. In addition to several book projects, Bedard has; two movie deals in the works with major film studios which will result in full length, animated feature films.Bedard's work is characterized by his rapier-like wit - you don't immediately know you've been impaled, because the blade is so sharp. There is nearly always a social commentary that lies underneath the whimsical imagery. One must look beyond the visual gag employed by the composition to the real purpose of the painting - usually an important social issue that concerns him.Like many artists whose work is deceptively simple, Bedard is not. He is a complex and driven man, who many times is overwhelmed by the scores of projects he has feverishly put into the works. He labors over each, painstakingly researching the issues, the treatment of the characters, the effort on the viewer, doing drawing after drawing before he ever sizes the canvas or gessoes the board. Forever a student he is extremely knowledgeable about the history of world art. His large, airy studio in a remote section of the Los Angeles area is filled to the rafters with well thumbed art and reference books.But what isn't commonly known about Bedard is the wealth of material he has created over the last thirty years that has never been published. Works of art that are as bizarre and wonderful as the ducks are amusing. It's that body of work which inspires the projects he has undertaken with Planet West Publishers.Michael Bedard's work has always pushed the art envelope - stepping up to the edge or serious controversy and peering over stopping just short of taking sides, content, for the most part, with raising the issues. But he is not content to rest on his laurels - he is taking his artwork to the next level. And despite his movie and book deals, it's still the drawing and painting he loves.In the early eighties, Michael Bedard was looking for a way to express a broad range of feelings about the human condition and wanted to use humor as a vehicle for addressing very serious issues such as, vulnerability, alienation and anxiety as well as social and political observations. The duck was chosen because it symbolized the vulnerability and attitude that comprises the human psyche.The duck characters immediately struck a chord with people about how fragile we feel in these modern times. The illusion that consumer comforts create a safety zone from the dangers of life is so pervasive that many actually hide behind these paper-thin walls and feel protected.The SITTING DUCKS concept pokes a funny hole through this fragile concept. It shows that even when one is having a safe moment relaxing with friends on a lounge chair with a favorite drink, one can suddenly become a target of one of life's merciless hunters. That theme of vulnerability carries through the Bedard duck series and has allowed the artist to expand the concept to examine the frailty of politics ( Failure of Marxism and Failure of Capitalism ) and even relationships ( Living Together ).The duck character, in retrospect was an excellent choice because of the nature of the animal itself. Even though a duck is very vulnerable to attack by superior forces (dogs, wolves, falcons, etc.) this wonderful creature displays an aggressive attitude when confronted by danger. The duck's only defense is this bluff that creates uncertainty and fear with its adversaries. This attitude is what has made the duck an appropriate icon for challenging the problems that threaten us all.Bedard says, I had no idea that these silly little characters would become so popular, but I take great pleasure in that they've become universally accepted. As an artist, I am grateful to be able to communicate through such a vehicle that transcends all language and cultural barriers. Return to Bedard's PageLast update: 8/4/2004The Cartoon Factory is committed to helping you get the art you want. If you have found a cel you want, we have a simple, one step, purchase form. Is there something you are looking for, and you don't see it online? Let us know! We have an in-house layaway plan to help you get the Art you want. If you are wondering what all these terms mean, we invite you to browse our Glossary of Animation Art Terms for definitions. We also have an online F.A.Q. page, for quick answers to some of questions we see the most. And if you would like to know more about handling the art you already have, we have a short page on the care and handling of cels.For more information, give us a call or an E-Mail.fone: (801) 255-5771fax: (801) 255-5772e-mail: The Cartoon Factoryposters, Angela Anaconda, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Beavis and Butt-Head, Betty Boop, Beyblade, Blue Gender, Blue's Clues, Bob the Builder, Brandy & Mr. Whiskers, Butt-Ugly Martians, Care Bears, The, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Cubix: Robots for Everyone, Danger Mouse, Dick's House, Digimon, Dora the Explorer, Dragon Tales, Dragonball Shows, Dudley Do-Right Show, The, Fairly OddParents, The, Family Guy, Felix the Cat, Flintstones, The, Futurama, Garfield, Gotham Girls, Gumby Show, The, Justice League (Television), Kim Possible, Lilo & Stitch (TV), Looney Tunes, Mijos, Mucha Lucha, Peanuts / Charlie Brown, Pink Panther Show, Pokemon, Popeye, Powerpuff Girls, The, Ripping Friends, Rocky & Bullwinkle & Friends, Rugrats, Sailor Moon, Schoolhouse Rock, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, Sealab 2021, Sitting Ducks, South Park, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Speed Racer, SpongeBob SquarePants, Strawberry Shortcake, Teen Titans, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, Transformers: Armada, VeggieTales, Wacky Races, Wallace & Gromit, Woody Woodpecker Show, The, the Simpsonsmkbooks200315 items in PrintsJapanese Manga,VIDEO,GAME,Trading Card and so on.Please enjoy my items.buy used: from 4.45!Wirtschaft &Geschäftsleben??? ? ? ? ?? ??Old Bear and His FriendsJane Hissey15.75 X11.75 7.95It's that time of the year when your Sunday paper swells to twice its normal size with Memorial Day coupons, the local radio station plays commencement themes, and Dad starts casually dropping hints about that cool new gadget he's had his eye on. Yep, 'tis the season of graduations and celebrations, and if you're like us, you're thinking: What on earth am I going to get them this time around? The author and illustrator of Sitting Ducks is Michael Bedard, who became famous for his poster of the same name in the late 1970s. In the poster, three ducks are sitting in deck chairs and sipping cool drinks. Two of the ducks seem pretty happy. One duck, however, is looking with concern over his shoulder. The wall there has two holes in it. There is little doubt that at least the one duck sees these as bullet holes. Bedard went on to a whole series of pop art posters including alligators, frogs, crows, dogs, and chickens.Cheap Used College Textbooks & School Books - Direct Textbook Mujer de Rodillascon vera Soles Diego Rivera 10.99Information about prices, products, services and merchants is provided by third parties and is for informational purposes only. Yahoo! does not represent or warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information, and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use.Ship of Fools31 in. x 26 in.Framed or MountedOrder NowLiving Together20 in. x 26 in.Framed or MountedOrder Now List reviews in this category Back to reviews front pagePosters : Contemporary Art : Contemporary Artists : Bedard Poster Cheap Posters : Contemporary Art : Contemporary Artists : Bedard Posters Discount

. michael bedard art . michael bedard posters . michael bedard print . michael bedard prints . Bedard, Michael . Michael Bedard . Posters Art Prints . Great Gifts . Limited Editions . Mike Bedard . Mini Posters . Sitting Ducks . Bedard Poster . bedard sitting duck . sitting ducks cartoon . beddard . bedar . cartoon network . survival of the fittest . michael bedard poster . The Santa Claus Brothers .