Paul’s inspiration comes from observing animals in the wild. The light reflecting in the gaze of a horse, the pose of a lioness as she lay beside her cubs, the heated breath of a bison on a brisk morning. These moments are filled with energy and emotion that Paul has made his mission to capture and share with the world.
Paul’s art career started in the fall of 1968 at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, IL. He was introduced to the medium of scratchboard and became enamoured with it.
Over the next 10 years, Paul worked for various design firms, packaging companies, pre-press production and printing production companies for national brands.
The next 30 years were spent in printing sales. During this time Paul married the love of his life, Pam, and they had three daughters.
Scratchboard remained his passion throughout this time. Paul’s hands were always busy creating art for family and friends, as he is the eldest of twelve children.
In 2008 Paul took his art career full-time and began showcasing his work at art festivals. He has toured over 220 shows in eight states and three countries. Paul has taken home many prestigious awards including 7 “Best of Shows” (1 of which was at the Mountain Oyster Club in Tucson, AZ) and 6 “People’s Choice” at the Phippen Western Art Show. Paul’s artwork has been displayed in art galleries in Florida, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. His work is collected around the world.
In 2015 Paul published The First Book of Scratchboard—a step-by-step guide for scratchboard. Teaching art is something that comes naturally to Paul. He has taught hundreds of kids and adults in numerous schools and organizations.
Paul loves seeing people light up when discovering their creative side. This is why Paul created Scratchboard University in 2017. This comprehensive learning program includes a scratchboard kit with materials, a printed guide, and a series of educational videos.
Paul continues to produce amazing illustrations of wild animals, endearing pet portraits, and educational content. His next project is to establish a nonprofit organization to promote art education for youth.