Switzer Canyon, North Park, San Diego, California Print

Since becoming a full-time professional artist in 1997, Paul has been committed to this approach in his painting. Being a 100% plein air painter, all of Paul’s works are done outside from start to finish. A small painting is done in one two- to three-hour session and a large canvas may evolve over days, weeks or even months. With the simplest of tools and this straight forward approach, Paul goes outside, sets up his french easel, mixes the primary colors, applies the pigment to canvas and paints. This direct approach to landscape painting has resulted in an evolution where his earlier studies are very painstakingly detailed to current work that is stripping away everything except the essentials. Small intricate, busy renderings are being replaced by large spacial shapes that blur the line between realism and abstraction. “My smaller — more intuitive — paintings will push the envelope toward abstraction due in part to the short time allowed for its completion. Coming from the tradition of plein air painting, this abstraction puts me out on a limb. With my larger canvases the work becomes more contemplative. I like to say this is when I am studying. Watching the light and shadow, examining the shapes and their relationships to one another, defining edges and searching for the natural colors in front of me. As a goal, I wish to achieve the competency to paint as vigorously on a large format as I do with the smaller ones, yet maintain the same level of sensitivity to the composition and all it’s components.” Paul’s professional career has taken him around the USA and Europe. One of his highlights was in 2011 while competing in Europe’s largest plein air painting competition held in the towns of Wexford and Enniscorthy, Ireland. After painting for five days, 125 painters submitted two paintings each for jurying. The Juror’s decision awarded one of Paul’s paintings (titled “Enniscorthy”) the Runner Up ribbon. Paul is also honored to have work in the permanent collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.