Bakehouse artist Monique Lazard discovered her calling to be an artist at the young age of ten, when she received a set of watercolors as a present from her uncle, Ray Bertrand, a Works Progress Administration (WPA) muralist and art teacher at the San Francisco Art Institute. After an illustrious career working first as a fashion illustrator and later as an art director, she has become a prolific painter who seeks to capture the true essence of her subjects and has been in residence at Bakehouse Art Complex since 2014.

Can you tell us about your artistic practice?

I am a painter working primarily in oil. My subjects are landscape, still life (mostly botanical), and figurative. I am interested in painting the things I see around me that make up my everyday life. I am not a conceptual artist. Using a fluid and expressive brushstroke, I am very interested in capturing a likeness of my subject, so there is no question what the viewer sees. I am interested in the way light describes form and how it makes something come alive!

Tell us about a personal artistic project or body of work that you are currently excited about. 

I just completed a series for the Riviera Country Club's annual art show, for which I am the featured artist. It was quite challenging because my approach was more graphic in style with bold colors with a pop feel. Specifically, these are paintings of celebrities depicted as babies or young children, so there is a humorous edge to them. They are really fun.

Tell us about how you have developed as an artist since you began working at Bakehouse. 

I love painting landscapes. Before moving to Miami, I had never painted a palm tree. I have fallen in love with the lush tropical landscape that surrounds me. I have painted many landscapes en plein air and in my studio. Having a studio space to work in has allowed me to work in solitude without distraction. I am able to translate a plein air painting into a larger painting in the studio. I have also been able to hire models to pose for me in my studio, which is wonderful!

What do you enjoy most about being a part of the Bakehouse community? 

I enjoy seeing what other artists are working on just by popping into their studios as I walk down the hall. I love to follow their progress and development. I love the camaraderie...that goes without saying. Even though I am focused on working when I am in my studio, I just love the energy of being in a space with other artists. It has been my dream since I was a little girl to have this kind of work environment.