Nautical Learnings

December, 2012 - Lisa Leblanc-Berry: Our Louisiana

“I love waking up at 5 in the morning and painting for two hours before I have my first cup of coffee,” says Michael Guidry, a New Orleans based artist who draws inspiration from the lakes, River, swamps, and bayous of South Louisiana. Born in Lafayette, he spent most of his life in the Big Easy, although he still feels ties in Cajun Country.

“I still feel a deep connection to that region, although my family moved back to the New Orleans area when I was two years old,” he says “I recently did a show there and experienced a real sense of nostalgia for Acadiana. I’m sure it helped that around a dozen people, whose last name was also Guidry, introduced themselves to me while I was there.”

Guidry has a journalism degree from LSU with minors in French, History, Painting, and Sculpture. “I returned to Louisiana after traveling through Europe and living in NYC,” he says. “It was more of a long, working vacation.” He says of his time in the Big Apple.  “I moved back to New Orleans and attended the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, where I solidified my interest in painting and drawing, although I also studied sculpture while I was there.”

Guidry says he enjoys the Coastal Wetlands, fishing and spending time on his 18-foot crawfish skiff.  Such experiences near the water fuel the artist’s passion for painting regional fish and shellfish.

“After getting around by kayak, canoe, and various homemade wooden crafts, my Crawfish Skiff is my latest passion,” he notes.  “One of my favorite ways to pass a good time is boating and being near the water.  I love picking out an area to explore, and taking my boat out to get lost and see if I can make it back to the dock alive.  Something always goes wrong, reminding me that I am really a city boy,” he laughs.

“Most of the inspiration for my paintings is a result of these outings,” Guidry adds.  “I bring the flora and fauna home to study and try to incorporate my experiences collecting these items into the compositions I am working on.”

Most of the Items that serve as Guidry’s inspiration for his still life paintings have been gleaned from local waters, although he has also been inspired by experiences working in restaurants and the vibrant colors and architecture in New Orleans.  “I enjoy turning raw materials into works of art,” Guidry points out.  “Most of my outings are to my fishing camp outside of Galliano, where I have a small, 30-acre oyster lease that I use for recreation.  It is one of the last camps left in the area, and every outing there is centered around shoring up the property to insure that this camp doesn’t follow the plight of others that the marsh has reclaimed.  The time I spend there reminds me why Louisiana is called a sportsman’s paradise.”

Guidry’s works are humorous, vibrant and unique.  “My normal thing is to bring items to my studio from my excursions and then I do studies that work their way into my compositions,” he says.  “Before I purchased my home, I kept a studio in the Bywater area of New Orleans, I now have my own work space on my property behind the house.  I miss riding my bike through the French Quarter, and surrounding Faubourgs to get to work every day, but I really prefer incorporating my art into my home life,” he says.

Guidry’s body of work is created on a variety of media, including a combination of burlap, linen, cotton canvas, metal and wood, using oil as well as home made encaustic paints.  “I prefer to make my studies and paintings in the studio environment working from life,” he says.

Michael Guidry works from his home studio on Willow Street in New Orleans. For further information contact the artist at: mguidrystudio.com; 504 253-0993