Paul S. Brown - MMXII

World-renowned classical realist artist Paul S. Brown returns to W.H.Patterson this month with his latest collection, MMXII. Once again Paul demonstrates his extraordinary talent for the craft of painting. Fifty works will be exhibited at the gallery.

Paul studied in Italy and the United States. His approach traces its heritage from the techniques of Renaissance picture making. Paul works from life, only by natural light (never using photography), using paints that he has ground by hand. His pigments are from the mines and sources utilised by the Old Masters.

This year’s exhibition will particularly engage field sports enthusiasts. The artist’s love for the outdoors is reflected throughout the show. A childhood in rural North Carolina and twenty years of living and travelling in Europe has given Paul a keen appreciation of the natural world. He says, “It’s a great joy of mine to be able to recreate the pleasures I’ve had in the outdoors. My landscape easel pack always has a fishing rod tied onto it.”

With their extraordinary realism, tempered by classical composition and a finely honed and painterly technique, Paul’s paintings have universal appeal. His appreciation of fine food and of the craft of wine making, indeed of any historic and intricate craft, is reflected in his still lives. In his figurative work he demonstrates an academic and naturalistic understanding of the beauty of the human form. His landscapes, always made in situ, hark back to the tradition of the oil sketch as study or as souvenir.

Glenn Fuller of WH Patterson says of this month’s exhibition, "Savouring a vintage wine with fine food may be a short moment in time, but when that is captured with such skill and craftsmanship, in paint on canvas, we can allow the indulgence to continue for a life time. What makes Paul's artistic skill so special is his ability to capture the aromas and flavours of the wine, the savoury tang of a strong cheese or the sweetness of fruit in a wonderful composition you can have on your wall forever.”

Pavillon Blanc Chateau Margaux 1983, oil on canvas, 61cm x 81cm
Paul has drawn on his interest in history to create a memorial to the years of the World Wars. He says, “Discovering the Année Victoire label on the Mouton Rothschild 1945 around the time of a friend’s grandfather’s recent passing was the inspiration. My friend lent me his grandfather‘s trunk and 11th Airborne Division patch from the Pacific theatre as well as his great grandfather’s dogtags and cavalry spurs from the First World War. When the painting was finished I felt great honour in showing it to the family with their generations of military service.”

In Flanders Fields is a stirring composition; it is a commemoration of the human spirit's fortitude and bravery. Paul has composed a narrative that represents many different aspects of Wartime experience: “I wanted to reflect the civilian at home as well as the soldiers at the front. I chose to include letters and records of those periods as well as our expressions of remembrance.”