Artists

Paul Reynolds

Paul Reynolds life began in the United Kingdom. He now lives in the hinterland on Queensland's Sunshine Coast near Cooroy. In the early 70's he attended art school in Canberra and held a successful solo exhibition. After rebelling and dropping out of art school, he became a self-employed truck driver, a nurseryman and finally a sign writer. He held his second solo exhibition in the 80's and continued to paint while also doing a little illustration work for "Matilda" magazine. Some of Reynolds freelance illustration work is in the National Library collection. After a period of lapse, Reynolds only resumed painting in 2006. Reynolds' work tends toward social and political commentary. "It can be confronting and possibly offensive to some - but I hope it is never boring." After such an extended pause Reynolds was worried that he may have lost his spark "Instead I am happier with my work than I have ever been, I feel it has matured and the anger and fire that drove my earlier works has not faded." Reynolds' inspiration comes from all over; it could be a sensational local news story, a hanging of a young girl in Iran or the "untouchables" in India. More often the inspiration is from real life encounters that Reynolds has experienced in his own life. Reynolds' main artist influences being the likes of Goya, Hogarth and Grosz, possibly more in the way they approached their painting than style. "I like my paintings to tell stories and ask questions." Reynolds' techniques are well practiced and experimental using many different mediums, however, Reynolds loves nothing more now to paint predominantly with oils and pastels. "The difference between an adequate musician and a great musician is that a great musician is conversant with his instrument that it has become an extension of his creativity, rather than a problem to be mastered. And so it is with the artist." Extracts taken from an interview with Artist's Palette, Issue No. 75 2009