The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) will have Alain Picard, an acclaimed portrait artist, demonstrating painting a portrait of a model at its meeting-program on Wednesday, August 27, at 1:30 pm. The meeting will be in the lower level of Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street (at the flagpole).

The demonstration is open to the public, free of charge.

Alain Picard, highlighted as one of the “20 contemporary artists on the rise” by The Artist’s Magazine in 2004, cites Sargent, Degas and Sorolla among his artistic influences. He earned a BA in illustration from Western CT State University and went on to study at the Art Students League in New York City.

A love of light and beauty is immediately apparent in his pastel and oil paintings. Mr Picard’s work has been featured in such publications as The Artist’s Magazine and The Pastel Journal.

In addition, he has garnered top awards in esteemed exhibitions throughout the Northeast including the Portrait Society of America, Hudson Valley Art Association, Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists, Connecticut Pastel Society and the Pastel Society of America. He is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America and Connecticut Pastel Society, for which he also currently serves as president.

Mr Picard won the Best Portfolio Award at the 2009 Portrait Society of America Conference in Washington, D.C.

A frequent workshop instructor and demonstrator for art associations, schools, galleries and museums, Mr Picard recently demonstrated at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Arts Club in New York City.

In his effort to share his passion for art with others, Mr Picard in 2013 published a book, Pastel Basics, which was followed by a series of instructional DVDs in portraiture later in the year.

Mr Picard lives with his wife and two sons in Southbury. Additional information about the artist is available at PicardStudio.com.

For more information about this demonstration, call 860-670-6744 or visit SCANart.org.