Jean Bastarache in his Venice studio.
Jean attended Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. His teachers loved him.
Starting Over as an Animation
Jean Jacques Bastarache, Los Angeles since 1988 Jean grew up in Westland, Michigan.
From his early years spent on the bustling factory line at the Ford Motor Company to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, where he devoted long days to perfecting sets for some of the most beloved television shows, Jean Jacques Bastarache pours his heart and soul into his craft. Every day, for 8-10 hours, he tirelessly wields his brush, creating stunning masterpieces that capture the essence of life and ignite the imagination. His studio is a sanctuary, filled with the scent of paint and the sound of music, allowing him to fully immerse himself in his art. With each stroke, he brings to life a world that exists only in his mind but now can be shared with others through his incredible talent.
Looming on the horizon for Jean is a character project for Disney. Expect more news about that soon.
Jean has established a successful career with numerous sold-out solo exhibitions at the Julie Rico Gallery in Santa Monica, California. In 1995, Jean also displayed his work at the "Mean Art Tent" exhibition during the Lollapalooza tour. His paintings were featured in Juxtapoz Fall, 1997, and Art Alternatives Issue #6. Recently, Jean's artwork was highlighted on the cover and as a spread in Emboss Magazine, 2017.
He has also delved into design, creating the CD cover and interior imagery for the Punk group P.O.D. under Atlantic Records. Additionally, he has designed album covers for punk band S.S.D.
Jean spent eight years working for renowned artist Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. The book "Rat Fink: The Art of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth" by Greg Escalante and Douglas Nason features Jean's contributions (starting on page 190), including paintings done for Ed.
The central themes of Jean's artwork revolve around significant cultural and personal topics such as losing oneself in a consumerist society, finding individual identity in dehumanizing situations, and the beauty of nature often overlooked in an overpopulated world. He also explores existential questions about purpose and meaning while contrasting them with society's reliance on therapy and false promises of happiness.
Throughout Jean's work are subtle symbols, signs, and images conveying deeper messages. His use of realistic anthropomorphic creatures creates a blend of thought-provoking subliminal messages.
In the Cards by Jean Jacques Bastarache as an animation.
A note about Jean from Julie Rico:
When I met Jean, he worked as a painter on the Ford Motor Company assembly line in Wayne, Michigan. He worked for 15 years, 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. At home, he spent time doodling. He loved Frank Frazetta and Salvador Dali’s work. He copied their work as drawings in great exact detail. He also loved to letter and do calligraphy. He did some sign painting over the years.
Jean moved to Los Angeles when many autoworkers lost their jobs due to globalization. In L.A., Jean met artist Spandau Parks living in a giant grungy loft in downtown Los Angeles. Span hired Jean to work as a scenic artist for television shows and commercials. This was another job where Jean worked long hours using his skills as a painter. You can see the impact of this work in Jean’s inventive paintings.
Besides making his own paintings, Jean worked for Ed Big Daddy Roth. Over an eight-year period, Jean created over 100 paintings for Ed. The paintings were based on Ed’s iconic monsters in cars stickers. Ed turned the original oil paintings into posters. You can see the work on Ed’s website.
Jean’s work has spanned subjects from life, death, and insomnia to hopeful images of life renewed.
Jean had several one-man shows over the years at the Rico and Julie Rico Galleries. People showed their love for his work as each show sold out completely. There was always a nice buzz when Jean had a show.
His work is well-documented in magazines and other types of media. He creates paintings that are used as graphics. You can see a work like this on the album cover for POD, The Fundamental Elements Of Southtown. Album Cover
You can see more about Jean below and you can click on the link above to see some original paintings. Jean’s Mother was Ukrainian and his Father, French Canadian.
1999 Jean created the album cover for the Punk Band P.O.D. the album was called Southtown. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fundamental_Elements_of_Southtown
SSD album cover by Jean Jacques Bastarache
Rico Gallery 208 Pier Ave. Santa Monica, California. Jean hung all of the exhibitions for 3 art galleries. A lot of work.
Jean Jacques Bastarache
Album Covers by Jean
Jean’s work has been featured in several magazines including Juxtapoz and Art Alternatives and he was asked to design the CD Cover and interior imagery for the Rapcore group P.O.D. for Atlantic Records V.P. John Rubeli. Jean is featured as the primary painter in the book Rat Fink the Art of Ed Big Daddy Roth.
Jean created this mural above on the side of the gallery on Main Street Santa Monica. So cool!
One of the paintings Jean Bastarache painted for Ed "Big Daddy" Roth for the exhibition "Rat Fink Meets Fred Flypogger Meets Cootchy Cooty" showing with Roth were Robert Willams, and Stanley Mouse. This was the first time they all showed work together. It was an unprecedented exhibition. Here is a link to a good sampling of work Jean did for Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. Jean worked for Ed for 8 years up until he passed on April 4, 2001. Ed's last assignment to Jean was to paint a piece called Monsters Rule. Jean sent it to his wife in Manti, Utah. We did not photograph it. I have not seen it published anywhere. https://goo.gl/1YINx5
Jean in front of the Rico Gallery on Pier ave. waiting for Roth to pull up in his car. Roth drove all the way from Manti, Utah for his show.
Timothy Leary signed his Chaos and Cyber Culture Book for the show he did with Jean Bastarache at the Main Street, Santa Monica Gallery.
Bad Brains lead singer Detroit, Michigan. Jean loved Punk Shows!
Submersion by Jean Jacques Bastarache oil on canvas 11"w x 14"h
The third gallery located just up the street from the other gallery. Artist Manfred Menz sponsored this gallery. Jean continued to hang the art here. He produced 1 show here titled "Tortured Dreams" 2000
With music artists: Michael Zentner and The New Division Live in Los Angeles, CA— with Alex Gonzales, Cherie Bugtong, Bidi Cobra, Mystic Pete, John Glenn Kunkel, Michael Zentner, Steve Nalepa, Julie Rico, Jean Bastarache and Wade Harpootlian at KXLU 88.9 FM Los Angeles.
Jean's Exhibitions at Julie Rico Galleries 1988-2000
Jean had 3- one man exhibitions with Julie Rico Galleries.
Julie Rico (R) and Spandau Parks (L) having Thanksgiving Day dinner in 1989 at 208 Los Angeles Street in downtown Los Angeles- Jean is taking the picture. Artist Spandau Parks introduced us to his landlord so that Julie could open a gallery. The space was 12,000 sq. ft. What an adventure.
The 1st gallery effort 1989 in downtown L.A. Jean installed the shows and created some of his first paintings at this location a 12,000 sq. ft. space. It was .10cents a square foot.
Jean's 1st exhibition in Los Angeles. Special thanks to Richard Lubrich and TK Nagano.
Jean's Career with Ed Big Daddy Roth:
See more by:
One of the paintings by Jean Jacques Bastarache and Ed Big Daddy Roth. Roth seen here on the left.
Velasquez and Ed Big Daddy Roth and Jean Jacques Bastarache collaboration
Born Jean Jacques Bastarache in Montreal, Canada, Jean was raised in Michigan.
Nude descending a staircase by Jean Jacques Bastarache and Ed Big Daddy Roth.
Ed Big Daddy Roth started a phenomenom in the 70's with monster decals.
Jean Jacques Bastarache would create an oil painting of the image Ed Big Daddy Roth would send to him. Ed sent Jean over 100 of these drawings to paint.
Ed Big Daddy Roth would have an artist create a drawing like this for Jean Jacques Bastarache to paint.
Ed "Big Daddy" Roth at his show at the Rico Gallery on Pier ave. Santa Monica, CA Master Finks and Monster Fetish with Dave Burke.
A fax sent to the Julie Rico Gallery. Julie asked Ed to create Rat Fink's surfing. He sent this and did some posters thereafter.
Ref. 2
Influences:
Salvador Dali,
Francis Bacon,
Mike Kelly (A high school friend in Westland, Michigan),
Van Gogh,
Ed Big Daddy Roth,
Frank Frazetta,
Uncle painter Herve Bastarache
Robert Williams.
Special thanks to artist, Ilene Segalove for helping with Jean's Bio.
Ref. 3
Canada: 96,145[1][2]
370,000 speakers of Acadian French in Canada [3]
New Brunswick: 25,400
Quebec: 32,950
Nova Scotia: 11,180
Ontario: 8,745
Prince Edward Island: 3,020
United States
The Acadians (French: Acadiens, IPA: [akadjɛ̃]) are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia, many of whom are Métis.[4][5][6][7] The colony was located in what is now Eastern Canada's Maritime provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island), as well as part of Quebec, and present-day Maine to the Kennebec River. Although today most of the Acadians and Québécois are French speaking (francophone) Canadians, Acadia was a distinctly separate colony of New France. It was geographically and administratively separate from the French colony of Canada (modern-day Quebec). As a result, the Acadians and Québécois developed two distinct histories and cultures.[8] They also developed a slightly different French language. France has one official language and to accomplish this they have an administration in charge of the language. Since the Acadians were separated from this council, their French language evolved independently, and Acadians retain several elements of 17th-century French that have been lost in France. The settlers whose descendants became Acadians came from "all the regions of France but coming predominantly directly from the cities".[9]
The Acadians ( French: Acadiens, IPA: ) are the descendants of the 17th-century French colonists who settled in Acadia, many of whom are Métis. The colony was located in what is now Eastern Canada's Maritime provinces ( Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island), as well as part of Quebec, and present-day Maine to the Kennebec River.
Bastarache is a pioneering family name in Acadia. You can find references to the history of this family by doing a Google search .