CHARCOAL DRAWINGS
Paul’s intention is to use technology as a starting point and take it back to a traditional medium. This process is resonant in all of his work and is evident in his painting, print and drawings. The selection of portraits originated from photographs taken using a mobile phone, capturing the moment of sincerity and candidness of his subjects. He re-interpreted them using just only charcoal on paper. It is perhaps the oldest artistic medium dating from the time of the cavemen. Also in the renaissance it was extensively used for preparatory sketches for paintings, but for Paul this is a finishing point as it still maintains a raw and fresh simplicity. In these portraits you will see mostly his friends and acquaintances, including some never to be seen strangers too. He has identified the character of his subjects not only through photography but also by the mark making process itself. Whether it is smooth, fine, bold or rough there is an intention to reveal an inner quality. Portraiture’s extraordinary longevity and resilience as a genre is a testament to the power of thisimaginative transaction between the subject, the artist and the beholder.
