The Grand Bohemian Gallery in St. Augustine will host a reception Friday, Nov. 4, for expressionist-colorist Jean Claude Roy to mark the opening of his “20th Annual Art Tour” exhibit. The exhibit will showcase Roy’s latest works.
The artist was born in 1948 in Rochefort-sur-Mer, located on France’s western coast. He is a highly accomplished artist on the international stage, known for his dramatic, vibrant landscapes painted in oil using a palette knife technique.
At the age of 7, Roy knew he wanted to be an artist. As a teenager, he took a job as an apprentice electrician on a cable-repair boat. Over his subsequent years at sea, his artistic interests settled upon landscapes. By 1973, he was selling his paintings in galleries, and, in 1974, he had his first solo exhibition.
His work reflects the season, the weather, the stories of passers-by, his mood and a “feeling of the place.” It serves as both a page in his diary and a tribute to the places he paints, including scenes from the Nation’s Oldest City. Viewing his works, one is held by his bold choice of colors and dramatic placement of structures and human activity amidst natural surroundings.
In the late 1980s, Roy began adding an iconic sun to his landscapes. His sun is not round but rather appears as the human eye perceives it while trying not to stare into its painful brightness.
Roy divides his time between France and Newfoundland. He is a featured artist in galleries located in Kessler Collection hotels across the United States.
Both the reception and exhibit are free and open to the public.
The reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 4. The exhibit will be open at the gallery from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Nov. 4-30.
The Grand Bohemian Gallery is located at 49 King St. in St. Augustine’s historic district at the iconic Casa Monica Resort & Spa.
