The Artist
Paul began his art career in the mid 1970’s, when he was a radio officer in the Merchant Navy.
"I've never really kicked the travel bug. In my view, it’s just about the best education there is, as well as an unending source of inspiration. Thirty years on, the art materials are better and the studio a lot more comfortable, but the process is still very much the same as then."
Home, and studio, is in the beautiful bush-clad hills overlooking Lake Okareka and Mount Tarawera, near Rotorua, New Zealand, where he lives with his partner, Sue, and—in the surrounding bush—a host of native birds.
My Art
Self taught, (the hard way!) Paul still has a special love for detailed pencil work. He also works in oils, with the occasional foray into watercolour or pen and ink. His drawings and paintings depict a wide variety of highly inspirational subjects, in whatever medium he feels best suits.
"First off, I work hard to express the passion I feel, which springs, in turn, directly from the beauty of a particular subject. It's that connection, that buzz and energy which focuses the inspiration and helps to carry the work through to completion. And accuracy's really important, too. I've always been my owm worst critic."
- Paul's work hangs in private collections in Europe, the USA and in Australia and New Zealand.
- His "Portrait of a Young Girl" was selected for inclusion in the International Artist book "How did you paint that? 100 ways to paint People and Figures".
- Whilst he was living in the U.K., Paul's work was exhibited in the Peter Hedley Gallery in Wareham, Dorset.
- In 2010, Paul has been selected for the second year running to exhibit at the NZ Art Show in Wellington.
Paul Braxton
