Francisco de Andrade

 



Francisco Manuel Vieira de Andrade - Painter

A DREAM AT THE TIP OF A PAINTBRUSH

"Art should be respected" - F. de Andrade

Francisco Manuel Vieira de Andrade was born on June 13, 1950 in the Parish of Rabo de Peixe, on the Island of São Miguel, Azores.

He spent his childhood and concluded his primary school education on this insular land, where simplicity and faith mould its people's spirit.

He later met and married Adelaide Pereira with whom he had his five children. Like so many of his contemporaries, he avoided conscription into the Portuguese army, then in the midst of a number of colonial wars in Africa, by immigrating to Canada. Once he had settled in the city of Montreal in the francophone province of Quebec, Francisco decided to do a technical training course in welding, a profession which was in later years to take him to the more remote parts of Canada. He experienced the icy fascination of the Northwest Territories, having worked for a period of time in Resolute Bay. Here he saw one of nature's greatest wonders, a spectacle of lights, the Aurora Borealis. "… A most beautiful thing … all that immense display of fireworks. A once in a lifetime experience."

Painting arrived in his life in a strange and sudden way. One night whilst watching television at home with his wife, Adelaide and their children, his attention is suddenly caught by the image of a Quebecois artist painting in his studio.

In a sudden fit of inspiration, it dawned on him that he should in fact encourage the artistic talents his children had been revealing through the years. He shared his thoughts with his wife and then set out to enroll his children in an art course in the days that ensued.

The night after he had enrolled his children Francisco had a dream, a dream in which he saw himself, in front of an easel, brush in hand, painting the most beautiful pictures. The next morning he left the house as if impelled by some mysterious and unfathomable force and headed towards Charles Garreau's art supply store. Garreau had been the painter he had seen on TV that night. He left the store equipped with paints, canvas and brushes, headed for yet another adventure into unknown territory, the frontiers of art.

At first he works night and day, drunk with the heady magic of form and colour. In time he realizes that, as with all creative activity, painting requires, besides talent and passion, discipline and planning.

Although predominantly a realist, Francisco does however undertake the occasional incursion into the world of abstract art, feeling most at home with cubism. The eternal perfectionist, it is very difficult for Francisco to let go of a canvas, for in his eyes it is always incomplete. Caricatures are yet another facet of this multitalented, self-taught artist, who considers a good sense of humour as being essential to a balanced and healthy way of life.

He greatly admires Domingos Rebelo, a renowned Azorean painter:
" I like the interplay of light and shadow in his canvasses."

Advice to the young painter: " Work hard. Don't hide your work at the bottom of some drawer. Good or bad, they should be shown to others. It is essential to the progress of an artist. One should share one's work, particularly with children."

Contact: Franciso de Andrade
3842 Rue Berri
Montreal, Quebec
H2L 4H1 Canada

Tel: 1(514) 985-2410