Monday, January 4, 2010





Blair Paul, Balance



Drawing on more than 35 years as a highly respected painter and teacher, Blair Paul has a thing or two to share about artmaking and educating. His solo exhibition and book launch at Cube Gallery (opening Wednesday, January 6 at 7 p.m.) will give him an ideal forum to just that.

The show and the book (which is part memoir, part catalogue) share a title: On the Edge of Discovery, a sentiment in line with Paul's continually experimental approach to art. Paul has been noted for his ability to paint exceptionally well in several styles, most of which will in evidence at Cube, where some 65 works are in the mix.

“The styles resulted from curiosity,” explained Paul, “the desire to take my work into new zones ... combining previously explored ideas with totally new ones.”

The artist points to the recent collage-based paintings of stylized landscapes (four are pictured here) as good examples of this.

“Creating an image that is totally new is virtually impossible, but the artist must try,” Paul said. “Trampling old ground repeatedly is not very satisfying, at least not to me!”

Born in Almonte, Ontario in 1951, Paul graduated from the Ontario College of Art in 1974, studied art history at Carleton University, and taught at a range of instituions. In September 2008, he created the Introduction to Fine Art program at Ottawa's Algonquin College where he continues to teach, but it was a student at the Ottawa School of Art who inspired and edited the new book.

“Lise Cloutier-Steele suggested that I should have a book about my life and work and offered to manage the entire project,” explained Paul. “I was astounded by her generosity and eagerly accepted her offer.

Published by Penumbra Press, the 80-page softcover contains more than 70 colour illustrations and offers a well-rounded look at the arist and his work. Part one was written by Paul himself and features details about his life, work, and philosophies. In the second section, Maine photographer Melville McLean adds insightful commentary. The book also includes a forward by arts writer and designer Alan King.

Despite the range of voices paying heed to Paul and his paintings, the artist has learned over the years that even the most incisive of words can only explain so much.

“Art is a magical thing that is never truly understood,” says Paul. “Painting, or any art form done well, communicates on a gut level, regardless of how well informed the viewer may be.”

“As a visual artist I help people to see, appreciate and hopefully understand our world a little better. We are educators constantly, whether in institutions of learning or elsewhere.”