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Paul Critchley

Abruzzo, Italy
My motifs are both interiors and exteriors which are painted on irregular shaped canvases. The shape, whether 2 or 3D, is an integral part of the painting and is, logically, decided by its subject.
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Concepts :
Perspective, its use and abuse, is at the core of my paintings, as can be seen from my paintings of interiors, such as 'Rauric 12', and in exteriors, both urban landscapes such as 'La Casa Blanca' and landscapes such as 'Early Summer'. 

The definition of realism takes on a new meaning when the paintings are shaped in perspective because a 'realistic' painting in a square or rectangle relies on the acceptance by the viewer that they are looking at an illusion presented to them in an arbitrarily imposed shape. But when a painting is shaped to look like the object represented when seen in perspective, such as a painting of a door - which actually opens and closes like a real door - then the illusion of reality is intensified. Perhaps it would be more accurate to describe this increased realism as 'supra-realism'. 

Time in a painting is a recurring theme; day and night might appear in the same picture or when a door / window is opened the same scene is revealed at a different time as in the painting 'Early Summer'. 

Influences :
Living abroad, local cultures, traditions and ... vino! 

Career path :
When I left college in 1982 I taught A Level art part time and quickly realised that I knew nothing - or no more than any other 22 year old. It was obvious that in order to teach someone something I had to get out of the academic circle and to live and paint in the outside world. I decided, therefore, that for my 'Post Graduate Qualification' the best thing would be to emigrate, and so in 1985 I went to live in West Berlin, when the wall was still very much in evidence. Since then I have travelled extensively throughout Europe, initially supplementing my income from painting with whatever part time work came along, but since 1991 I have been living solely from my painting. I regard the 800+ paintings executed in the past 30+ years as my post grad. qualification. During the term of my 'Post Graduate Course' I have been 'In Residence' in West Berlin, France (various locations), The Netherlands (various locations), Padova, Sienna, Altea, Moscow, Philadelphia, Miami Beach and New York. I was 'In Residence' in Barcelona for 11 years and since 2008 I am now in "residence" in Abruzzo in central Italy. 

 

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