Michael Bedard

Michael Bedard

As I write this, late in 1995, Michael Bedard needs no introduction. I need only point out that he is the artist who created the now world-famous "Sitting Ducks" poster.

Sitting Ducks-first released in the late '70's, 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 effect 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 of 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.

Todd Bingham