François Bernaud — Painter and film composer

Painting

Form first, as melody comes first in music

Belonging to no movement, « apart from the ocean currents of the Channel », François Bernaud practises a form of expressionism based on the sensuality of forms, then of colours. Painting as a vital, almost primitive discipline, made of rituals and fetishes. His paintings have been exhibited in Paris, Brittany, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Déchirement — The first four — 1988 · Oil on canvas paper · 36 × 48 cm — DéchirementThe first four1988 · Oil on canvas paper · 36 × 48 cm

La main de Dieu — The first four — 1988 · Oil on canvas paper · 48 × 36 cm — La main de DieuThe first four1988 · Oil on canvas paper · 48 × 36 cm

Mesures — The first four — MesuresThe first four

Turn OFF the life — The first four — 1988 · Oil on canvas paper · 36 × 48 cm — Turn OFF the lifeThe first four1988 · Oil on canvas paper · 36 × 48 cm

Après l’amour — Major paintings — 1992 · Oil on canvas · 73 × 54 cm — Après l’amourMajor paintings1992 · Oil on canvas · 73 × 54 cm

Chat — Major paintings — 1998 · Oil and dry pastel on canvas · 81 × 65 cm — ChatMajor paintings1998 · Oil and dry pastel on canvas · 81 × 65 cm

Désir — Major paintings — 1994 · Oil on canvas · 100 × 65 cm — DésirMajor paintings1994 · Oil on canvas · 100 × 65 cm

Encre et Gin n° 1 — Major paintings — 1991 · Oil on canvas · 130 × 162 cm — Encre et Gin n° 1Major paintings1991 · Oil on canvas · 130 × 162 cm

Jeu de plage — Major paintings — 1992 · Oil on canvas · 100 × 50 cm — Jeu de plageMajor paintings1992 · Oil on canvas · 100 × 50 cm

L’heure — Major paintings — 1990 · Oil on canvas · 100 × 81 cm — L’heureMajor paintings1990 · Oil on canvas · 100 × 81 cm

La porteuse d’eau d’après Ingres — Major paintings — 1994 · Oil on canvas · 116 × 73 cm — La porteuse d’eau d’après IngresMajor paintings1994 · Oil on canvas · 116 × 73 cm

Nativité Africaine — Major paintings — 1996 · Oil on canvas · 100 × 81 cm — Nativité AfricaineMajor paintings1996 · Oil on canvas · 100 × 81 cm

Nativité — Major paintings — 1994 · Oil on canvas · 60 × 74 cm — NativitéMajor paintings1994 · Oil on canvas · 60 × 74 cm

Projections — Major paintings — 1993 · Oil on canvas · 93 × 65 cm — ProjectionsMajor paintings1993 · Oil on canvas · 93 × 65 cm

Train de banlieue — Major paintings — 1998 · Oil and dry pastel on canvas · 81 × 65 cm — Train de banlieueMajor paintings1998 · Oil and dry pastel on canvas · 81 × 65 cm

Roches I — Major paintings — 1997 · Oil and dry pastel on canvas · 38 × 46 cm — Roches IMajor paintings1997 · Oil and dry pastel on canvas · 38 × 46 cm

Roches II — Major paintings — 1997 · Oil and dry pastel on canvas · 46 × 38 cm — Roches IIMajor paintings1997 · Oil and dry pastel on canvas · 46 × 38 cm

Roches III — Major paintings — 1997 · Oil and dry pastel on canvas · 19 × 27 cm — Roches IIIMajor paintings1997 · Oil and dry pastel on canvas · 19 × 27 cm

Vieilles en terrasse I — Major paintings — 1989 · Pastel on paper · 30 × 40 cm — Vieilles en terrasse IMajor paintings1989 · Pastel on paper · 30 × 40 cm

Vieilles en terrasse II — Major paintings — 1993 · Oil on canvas · 97 × 130 cm — Vieilles en terrasse IIMajor paintings1993 · Oil on canvas · 97 × 130 cm

Série Sang I — Sang series — 1995 · Oil on canvas · 100 × 81 cm — Série Sang ISang series1995 · Oil on canvas · 100 × 81 cm

Série Sang II — Sang series — 1995 · Oil on canvas · 80 × 80 cm — Série Sang IISang series1995 · Oil on canvas · 80 × 80 cm

Série Sang III — Sang series — 1995 · Oil on canvas · 38 × 47 cm — Série Sang IIISang series1995 · Oil on canvas · 38 × 47 cm

Série Sang IV — Sang series — 1995 · Oil on canvas · 38 × 47 cm — Série Sang IVSang series1995 · Oil on canvas · 38 × 47 cm

Série Sang V — Sang series — 1995 · Oil on canvas · 38 × 47 cm — Série Sang VSang series1995 · Oil on canvas · 38 × 47 cm

Double triptyque modulable I — Modular double triptych — 1994 · Oil on canvas · 3 × (46 × 55) + 3 × (46 × 38) cm — Double triptyque modulable IModular double triptych1994 · Oil on canvas · 3 × (46 × 55) + 3 × (46 × 38) cm

Double triptyque modulable II — Modular double triptych — 1994 · Oil on canvas · 3 × (46 × 55) + 3 × (46 × 38) cm — Double triptyque modulable IIModular double triptych1994 · Oil on canvas · 3 × (46 × 55) + 3 × (46 × 38) cm

Double triptyque modulable III — Modular double triptych — 1994 · Oil on canvas · 3 × (46 × 55) + 3 × (46 × 38) cm — Double triptyque modulable IIIModular double triptych1994 · Oil on canvas · 3 × (46 × 55) + 3 × (46 × 38) cm

Exposition « Fétiches » sur le toit de la Grande Arche, 5 mars au 1er avril 2001 — Exhibition — Exposition « Fétiches » sur le toit de la Grande Arche, 5 mars au 1er avril 2001Exhibition

Untitled — Watercolours — 1996–1997 · Watercolour on paper — UntitledWatercolours1996–1997 · Watercolour on paper

Available paintings and their prices are provided on request: write to me.

Music

Music, « the number one lung »

Son of the composer Alain Bernaud (Premier Grand Prix de Rome 1957), pupil and then assistant of Vladimir Cosma for ten years, François Bernaud makes music for the screen his favourite playground. From 1989 to 2024 he also worked in the music expertise teams of the Sacem, first as deputy director for ten years, then as director of the department for ten years, without ever ceasing to compose. He is currently preparing the music for several series scheduled between 2026 and 2029.

Film scores

Cover of the soundtrack of Sur le sentier — **Sur le sentier**Soundtrack · 2025
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Cover of the soundtrack of Fario — **Fario**Soundtrack · 2022
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Cover of the soundtrack of Eject — **Eject**Soundtrack · 2018
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Cover of the album 967: stylised midnight-blue face on a white background, initials FB

Solo album

967 · recorded in 2007, released in 2018

A « road music » concept album, in the line of 1970s progressive rock, between pop and electronica, mixing talk-over, instrumentals and songs. In the spirit of Genet, Kerouac, Burroughs and Gainsbourg, it tells in 24 hours the initiatory journey of a lost guy, sitting under a bus shelter by the Nationale 967 road.

Composed, arranged, performed and recorded by François Bernaud · Paroxystic

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Ganja Road Trip 6’51
Au bar de l’Albatros 4’54
Outdoor Sensations 3’02
Le Silo à grain (suite nuptiale) 10’49
Désert 6’24
Fast Rewind 5’04
Get Off the Bus 7’11
967 6’20
Fast Forward 6’31
…A New Something 3’17
The Boy’s Dream

In the studio with Lio recording Matin de mariage — In the studio with Lio, recording *Matin de mariage*.

Matin de mariage · 1988

Short musical comedy by Gérard Jumel (13 min). In a small flat, a couple wakes up on the morning of their wedding, under the ironic gaze of an ancient-style chorus. Sung voices: Lio and Cleet Boris. Production: La Sept ARTE, Les Films du Losange, CNC.

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Other works

For cinema: La disparue des Minquiers, Le Doigt (Gérard Jumel)
For the stage: Amour pour amour, La mordida, Killy the Bide
Oratorio La passion du chat, for orchestra and choir of women and children
Pieces for chamber orchestra, cello quintet, tango
La vraie vie est ailleurs, soundtrack for Olivier Martin’s edit

Writings

A mirror with three faces

Alongside the musician and the painter, the author. An avid reader of Albert Cohen, Cioran, Thomas Bernhard, Desnos, Lautréamont, Flaubert or Sylvie Germain, François Bernaud has been writing since the age of 23.

Chienne d’éternité !

(formerly La Mort dans l’Âme !)

1988 · collection of absurd conversations · illustrated edition

Written during a sabbatical year, at the moment when painting « bursts into the open ». An unclassifiable book, illustrated by the author.

Career

From the score to the easel, and back

1964Born on 15 May. Perfect pitch: piano from age 4, violin, solfège, then musical writing.
1978–1988Pupil and assistant of Vladimir Cosma.
1982Baccalauréat in literature & music at the Lycée Racine, Paris.
1988Sabbatical year: Chienne d’éternité ! (formerly La Mort dans l’Âme !), the first paintings, Matin de mariage.
1989First exhibitions: Salon des peintres de l’Oise, galleries in Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy.
1989–2024Music expertise teams at the Sacem, including ten years as deputy director, then ten years as director of the department.
1997Exhibition Catalyses at the Grande Arche de la Défense.
1998This website goes online.
2001–2016Pause in painting; the composition continues.
2016Back to the canvas.
2018Score of Eject, album 967.
2022Score of Fario.
2025Score of Sur le sentier.

In his paintings, the curved and angular forms of figures and landscapes answer muted yet luminous colours: it is the harmony and disharmony of life that plays out there.

Exhibition invitation card — Invitation card

Contact

A painting, a film project, a question?

I reply to every message, usually within 24 hours.

fbernaud@gmail.com