The duck character was an excellent choice because of the
nature of the animal itself. Even though a duck is
vulnerable to attack by superior forces, this wonderful
creature displays an aggressive attitude when confronted
by danger. The duck's only defense is this bluff that
creates uncertainty and fear with its adversaries.
This attitude is what has made the duck an appropriate
icon for challenging the problems that threaten us all.
The duck characters immediately struck a chord with
people about how fragile we feel in these modern times.
The illusion that creature comforts create a safety zone
from the dangers of life is so pervasive that many actually
hide behind these paper-thin walls and feel protected.
The "Sitting Duck" message pokes a funny hole through
this fragile concept. It shows that even when one is
having a "safe" moment relaxing with friends on a lounge
chair with a favorite drink; one can suddenly become a
target of one of life's merciless hunters. That theme of
vulnerability carries through the Bedard duck series
and has allowed the artist to expand his concept to
examine the frailty of politics ("Failure of Marxism"
and "Failure of Capitalism") and even relationships
("Living Together" and "Ship of Fools").
Bedard says, "I had no idea that these little characters
would become so popular but I take great pleasure in that
they've become universally accepted. As an artist, I am
grateful to be able to communicate through a vehicle
that transcends all language and cultural barriers."
Bedard's work, both on the canvas and on the screen, is
characterized by his uncanny ability to create an
image with depth in both artistic quality and meaning.
There is nearly always a social commentary that lies
underneath his whimsical imagery. One must look beyond
the simple visual statement employed by the composition
to the real purpose of the painting -- usually an
important social issue that concerns us all.
Bedard has had numerous sold out one-man exhibitions
in and around his current Los Angeles residence. His
children's book, "Sitting Ducks", has won three
prestigious international awards for children's
literature and his children's television show of
the same name is tremendously popular in 48 countries.
In Japan nearly one out of two children watch the show.
In 2001, Bedard received an Emmy Award for his made-for-TV
movie, "The Santa Claus Brothers", which aired on Disney and ABC.