BIO
Born and raised in France among the ravages of WWII, George Colliat studied in France. After a Fulbright scholarship at Stanford University in California, his life meandered between Canada, France, Arizona, and California. Along the way, he built a family, an engineering career, and values that transcend his initial strict Catholic upbringing.
Unexpectedly, he ended up becoming a US citizen and a High-Tech engineering executive in California. Retired from industry, he has been an adjunct faculty at Arizona State University. He has also rediscovered fine art and in particular painting that was his first passion as a child.
He shares his time between his residences in Phoenix, Arizona and the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Elke who immigrated from Germany. The following book describes his journey, for the benefit of his family and friends, and anyone interested in life story: My Life: English - French
Born and raised in France among the ravages of WWII, George Colliat studied in France. After a Fulbright scholarship at Stanford University in California, his life meandered between Canada, France, Arizona, and California. Along the way, he built a family, an engineering career, and values that transcend his initial strict Catholic upbringing.
Unexpectedly, he ended up becoming a US citizen and a High-Tech engineering executive in California. Retired from industry, he has been an adjunct faculty at Arizona State University. He has also rediscovered fine art and in particular painting that was his first passion as a child.
He shares his time between his residences in Phoenix, Arizona and the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Elke who immigrated from Germany. The following book describes his journey, for the benefit of his family and friends, and anyone interested in life story: My Life: English - French
Artist Statement
I discovered painting as an adolescent in art classes in Lyon, France where I was born. Retired from a career as an engineer and corporate executive, I am returning to my first passion.
I think of painting as the engineering of perspectives, values, and colors to capture the essence of what I love in the subject. I paint what moves me, the expression in animals and people, the colors and movements in landscapes. I try to render the essence of this emotion with my own personal style inspired by realism and expressionism. I use oil and acrylic on canvas, focusing on drawing, values, and colors.
I find my inspiration for landscapes through my travels, mostly in California, Arizona, and Europe. Portraits and animals are usually of friends and family or commissioned. Still life is a recent excursion on a path I have not walked since the art classes of my youth.
I was originally influenced by my art teachers and my mentor, the artist Pierre Pelloux. I discovered the art of painting portraits with the figurative artist Mike Malm at the Scottsdale Art School in Arizona. The artist and instructor Aina Ferrer Clotas at San Mateo Community College challenged me to stretch beyond my comfort zone.
I discovered painting as an adolescent in art classes in Lyon, France where I was born. Retired from a career as an engineer and corporate executive, I am returning to my first passion.
I think of painting as the engineering of perspectives, values, and colors to capture the essence of what I love in the subject. I paint what moves me, the expression in animals and people, the colors and movements in landscapes. I try to render the essence of this emotion with my own personal style inspired by realism and expressionism. I use oil and acrylic on canvas, focusing on drawing, values, and colors.
I find my inspiration for landscapes through my travels, mostly in California, Arizona, and Europe. Portraits and animals are usually of friends and family or commissioned. Still life is a recent excursion on a path I have not walked since the art classes of my youth.
I was originally influenced by my art teachers and my mentor, the artist Pierre Pelloux. I discovered the art of painting portraits with the figurative artist Mike Malm at the Scottsdale Art School in Arizona. The artist and instructor Aina Ferrer Clotas at San Mateo Community College challenged me to stretch beyond my comfort zone.