November’s Artist:

Giancarlo Piccin: “MY TO”

BIOGRAPHY

Giancarlo Piccin is a highly creative, multi-disciplinary Artist and Art Director with over30 years experience in fine art, graphic design and marketing.

Piccin is an internationally collected visual artist with extensive gallery installation experience. He has worked on commissions for large corporations as well as private art collectors. As an Art Director he has created and conducted highly persuasive marketing campaigns. Successfully managed and coordinated graphic design projects from concept through to completion, including branding, logo and website designs.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, May 29, 1959, to Italian immigrants Basilio and Lidia. He is the middle child of three.

Giancarlo’s mother recalls the day in which she discovered that her son had artistic talent. “We had returned to Italy and arrived in a small town close to where I was born. Rather than a conventional taxi, we decided to take a horse and carriage back to my parents’ home; this ride left two and a half year old Giancarlo, in awe.” When the family arrived at their destination, the young man demanded a pen and paper, and immediately drew out in detail the horse, carriage and driver. Upon seeing his grandson’s work, Piccin’s grandfather wept with joy, asking in disbelief how a child, who could barely talk, could have such ability.

“As long as I can remember, I’ve been the centre of attention when it came to art. I was the student asked to design the posters and murals or yearbook covers in school. While the other students would work on Math or English assignments, I would be drawing in my notebook or painting something. For me there was no ‘choice’, it’s a part of me, it’s who I am; more than anything it is a gift that I need to share.”

While still in high school, Giancarlo sold his first painting: to the VP of The Toronto Dominion Bank. After taking the elevator to the top floor of one of the TD Bank buildings, and being invited into a spacious office with an incredible view, he surprised the VP by insisting, true to his street-wise background, on being paid in cash.

In Grade 12, he was being encouraged to pursue art in post-secondary school. Giancarlo used the excuse of working on his portfolio to skip classes and work full time at a local billiards. Piccin was accepted into Ontario College of Art at the age of eighteen. During his first year, he found himself behind the other students due to his lack of formal training and his, comparatively, young age. But after studying under the likes of Fred Hagan, Peter Mau, Mario Polidori and John Inglis, he soon found his stride.

After graduating OCAD, he was accepted into the Fine Art Program at York University, but he decided to decline the invitation to continue working solely on his art. During this time he had several shows and travelled to Jamaica and Mexico. Piccin’s freelance work lead to an exhibition at the Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery. After extended travels to Italy, Mexico, Honduras and Costa Rica, he returned home to take a full-time job as a designer.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for the Italian High Renaissance. It may be the fact that I’m a Canadian of Italian heritage that draws me toward this period or because I find the impeccable craftsmanship and aesthetic quality of their work appealing.”

Piccin’s artistic direction changed following that trip to Italy; his style now reflects a maturity that explores the possibilities of architectural details and man-made objects as subject matter, striving to capture light with paint.

Piccin recently moved to Oxford, Nova Scotia from Ontario with his wife Marion Abbott. They have a son, also named Giancarlo who is studying Special Effects for film and television in the USA.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

“The challenge for any contemporary artist is to see the world through new eyes. It is important to me that an artist’s work reflects his time. Whether it is through the use of contemporary themes, techniques and/or mediums. I try to gain a good understanding of the past and present art scene to try and meet this challenge in an effort to represent my generation.”

“Ultimately, I investigate the relationship between people and their surroundings. My work usually begins with an abstract painting. I then explore the possibilities of architecture and people as subject matter that suits the under painting. By using colour in successive layers and making a conscious effort to paint loosely, I encourage the viewer to connect the missing links to form a complete image. Occasionally, I include found objects to further explore this relationship. I continually push myself to take my art farther and not allow myself to fall into a predictable pattern. ”

“With my architectural series, I investigate the relationship between people and their surroundings.”