Julian Cardinal
- Written by Julian Cardinal
Becoming a painter was as much a matter of choice for me as it was part of my family’s DNA. I grew up on the historic art colony of Provincetown, Massachusetts where my family has had Kiley Court Gallery for over two decades and my father has developed a reputation as a renowned Cape Cod landscape painter. While enrolled as an English Major with an Art Minor at the University of Vermont, I began creating my first series of paintings. Once my initial paintings were displayed and sold at Kiley Court Gallery, I began receiving local buzz around Provincetown and Cape Cod. In my early 20s, I joined forces with my father and business partner to open up a gallery in Burlington, Vermont that showcased my work, along with my father’s and other local artists. I continue to work out of my studio in Burlington and am currently exhibiting my paintings in Provincetown, Vermont, and New York City.
Loose brush strokes, muted hues, and unique textures help define my work as dreamy and airy. The preliminary steps I take before bringing paint to canvas involve choosing an image that I feel my style works well with. Compositionally, I prefer simple subject matters and lines. I often pick black and white photos that I can add an element of color and depth too. I begin by looking through hundreds of pictures and will usually pick a couple from that list. When I paint nudes and flowers; however, I enjoy painting from life. There is something about setting up a bouquet and painting it that is very rewarding.
I am inspired by vintage subject matter, especially early 20th century French fashion. Once I gain a sense of the picture's composition, I can then duplicate the images using various canvas sizes, color pairings, and brush strokes. My overall goal is to combine the inspiration I take from vintage fashion with contemporary expressionism.
Many subjects I paint are depicted from a side view, leaving the facial features shadowed and blurred. Since I put less emphasis on detailed features and background, the shapes of the garments and the pose take precedent. My Running Girl series manages to create a balance between the bodily movement and the simplified background. Flowing lines and rich textures make up the dress while the face is lost in the depths of the canvas. The ambiguousness of her identity makes her more relatable to the viewer – a mother, a sister, a daughter. Too much detail can be detrimental to maintaining that sense of ambiguity and connection with the viewer, ultimately disturbing the intended air of imagination.
The process of completing a painting can be a frustrating and difficult journey. Artists often overthink their decision to step away from a project and risk overworking a piece. I like to work as fast as possible without rushing, which helps me maintain my sense of direction. Because a painting can move in so many ways, it’s easy to divert from what works. While a considerable amount of planning goes into the start of a piece, the final result is guided by pure feeling. Completing a painting is a personal experience that involves having a general idea of what you want. There is no right way to finish, but there is an end goal and it is critical to know when you've met it. There have been many instances where my family and friends will love a painting, but if the blue hat doesn't sit well with me then I'll change it to white. If the white doesn't work then I'll stack the piece in my studio and begin something new.
Since 2011, Cardinal has exhibited at Scarlett Galleries in Burlington, was included in a group show at Essex Art Gallery in Essex, CT, and George Billis Gallery, where he made his New York City debut in 2015. His time at George Billis Gallery led to participation in the Art Hamptons in Bridgehampton, NY and Cityscapes: a Group Exhibition in 2017. That same year, he was part of both Emerging Artists and Members’ Juried at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum. In addition to Kiley Court Gallery, Cardinal has exhibited with his father at Thos. Moser Boston Showroom in Boston, MA, West End Gallery in Provincetown, MA, and Robert Cardinal Fine Art in Chatham, MA. He is currently represented by Lilac Gallery in New York City.
www.juliancardinal.com
@juliancardinal
