American Art Collector 2007 - Paul Schulenburg

UPCOMING SHOWUp to 15 works on showJuly 15–21, 2007Addison Art Gallery43 Route 28Orleans, MA 02653(508) 255-6200SHOW LOCATION ORLEANS, MAPAUL SCHULENBURGThis working lifeAs an ardent observer of daily life onCape Cod, Paul Schulenburg wasinitially taken in by the beauty ofthe landscape but soon became intrigued bythe people who work and actually make adaily living off the land.“Fisherman, dockworkers, peopleworking on the pier, that is the sort of thingI’m looking for,” says Schulenburg. “When Ifirst started painting on the Cape I saw it asa beautiful place and the landscape was veryinspiring but it just wasn’t alive yet. Butonce the fisherman started working and thepier became filled with life and activity, it allbecame very inspiring.”Schulenburg sees a particular poetryand romance in these professions and wantsto capture the look and feel of this idea onto the canvas.“The lobstermen and fishermen comein on these big boats, draggers, which arelarge commercial vessels, into places likeChatham, Provincetown and Port Clydeand oftentimes they have huge crewsworking on them,” says Schulenburg. “But,what I want to do is to isolate one or twofigures working on the boats and show thembusy at their daily chores. One of myfavorite paintings I’ve done is of a womanworking in Provincetown on this big, rustyfishing boat. And she’s just there standing onthat creaky, old and ancient sea vessel. I lovethat painting.”However, in this commitment to thepeople and the lifestyle of the area,Schulenburg also knows far too well thatthis style of living is rapidly disappearing.“While the work is often an attempt tocapture a way of life that at first glanceseems timeless and enduring,” saysSchulenburg, “in reality, it might be slowlydisappearing: whether I’m painting aworking fisherman, a neighborhood coffeeshop, a public pay phone or a coastal vista.While so much of the country is beingaffected by suburban sprawl, I appreciatethat there are still places along the NewEngland coast that offer an authenticity ofcharacter that is increasingly hard to find.Schulenburg is also drawn to the figureitself outside of their occupational context,from the different ways people interact tothe effects of light and shadow across one’sface.“I enjoy trying to capture a gesture,whether in the anatomy or through anemotional response,” says Schulenburg.“The way a person is standing, the waysthey are physically in the environment theyare in at the time are all important to me.With the human figure and faces especially,one slight change, one brushstrokecompletely changes that feeling of apainting and it’s a challenge to capture thathuman element.”Fisherman at Day’s End, oil on canvas, 48 x 48"After feeling comfortable with thesubject matter and the thoughts behindplacing the figure within an importantexterior scene, Schulenburg then finds thepainting process compelling as well.“I have always been driven to draw andpaint,” says Schulenburg. “I like thephysical, tactile process of using paint,mixing a color and applying it to a surface. Ilike the idea of taking a few raw materialsand creating something new and interestingwhere before there was nothing. It’s achallenge on so many levels: the drawing,the color relationships, quality of light,subject matter, composition. Each variablehas infinite possibilities.”Schulenburg was also inspired by a recenttrip to Boston to view the Edward Hopper

Sunlight and White Satin, oil on panel, 24 x 24"The Gallery Says . . .“Paul Schulenburg’s street and cafe scenes portray a sense of place and that lovely aura of leisurenormally associated with the charms of Europe. Paul’s interiors instantly set moods. Wonderfulshadows and his figures’ expressive glances bring you into rare, private moments. It’s easy tounderstand why his work often sells within hours of arriving at the gallery.”— Domonic Boreffi, Director, Addison Gallery167

Fisherman with ice shovel, oil on canvas, 40 x 30"exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts.Hopper did so much with capturing aperson and integrating them into anenvironment through light and shadow, castshadows through a window or light reflectingoff a surface onto another surface,” saysSchulenburg. “He’s so inspiring because there’sreally a simplicity to his compositions. Andeven though you associate his work withrealism, he didn’t get caught up in detail andso much of his was implied rather thanrendered.”For a direct link to theexhibiting gallery go towww.americanartcollector.com

Café Tables, oil on canvas, 24 x 24"Gallery Visit, oil on panel, 16 x 16"The Collector Says . . .“In my office there is apainting of our home and beachin East Dennis which captures soperfectly the pinkish light and themood of the heavenly place weare so fortunate to own— thepainting provides me with theescape no matter how much thebusiness pressure. Among ourother paintings by Paul is afisherman in his fishing attire onthe wharf on the Cape which Ifind almost architecural in itsprecision. I love his work."— Steve FischmanPrice Range IndicatorOur at-a-glance Price Range Indicatorshows what you can expect to pay forthis artist’s work.Small Medium Large2001 $500 $1,800 $4,0002007 $1,000 $3,600 $10,000169