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Born
in Birmingham, England on the 7th March 1962, English artist Paul Edmonds, "The Art
Beast" came into the world of a very European background. With an
English father and a Belgian mother, "The Art Beast" soon
developed a true continental style, keeping the family's rich vein in
art, following on from his late uncle, the Belgian realist/still life
painter Victor Jans. This identity later sent him on to find out and
explore this Continent of many languages and styles, and to experience
the different cultures, bringing about his awareness of the different
peoples' skills and ways. This did indeed form his later style, shown
clearly in his drawings of the many countries he visited and lived in. In his early years Paul Edmonds was brought up in
England and showed from the tender age of five his artistic talent and
was rewarded with his first ever exhibited piece for the amazed local
people of Hollywood, Birmingham. This being a water colour of tropical
fish in their natural environment, of which he over thirty years later
would experience in real life at first hand in the Great Barrier Reef. His love for wild-life and nature would rapidly rise
and two years later Paul, whilst in hospital to pass the time away did
another water colour of a Blue Tit. (small European bird). This picture
was on show at his gallery in Germany ( renovated by himself in an old
wooden beamed house, with the help of another artist Paul Dadd, the
great grandson of the famous artist Richard Dadd) Then some 29 years
later at that gallery in Melsungen the original Blue Tit was displayed
alongside a commissioned piece of his from the very same species. To see
the two together was a nice combination in not only seeing how his love
for bird watching has remained, but to see the incredible masterful
grace and expressive freedom in the works. Many of his beautiful bird
drawings are now in private collections around the world. Along with
hundreds of Paul's other works. Edmonds never lost his love then for
nature and wild life, but his love for old buildings grew ever stronger
as well. This style gives him the chance to show his different technique
and exacting form. It is this combination of real life likeness /
architectural design that comes out so well in the town street /
building pictures. The picture Das Gänseliesel
is one such awesome example. It is now his famous acute attention to detail that
has brought about such high critical acclaim. Of which has been
exhibited around the world. Paul's works have been on exhibit in such
places as England, Belgian, New Zealand, Germany, San Francisco and now
recently in Australia. His commissioned works are in many numerous
countries. His chosen medium is to show much
diverse form. To hear the rustling in the trees, the reflection on a
pain of glass or even to a witness a child's playful glee. Child's
Play. All can be seen in the way he not only draws with the use of a
pencil / crayon, but the way he carves out from a block of graphite such
unbelievable stone like appearance.
The phenomenal picture Stone
Face
His time in Germany between the years
of 1994 to 1999 was the turning point in his career and the time to move
onto further and greater things. His time in California was important in
bringing about
a pivotal point. This then to go back to his roots and have one
last exhibition in Europe at Lombise, Belgium " The Return",
before he would pack up his stuff and travel half way around the world
to get married on the 1st April 2000 to his beloved wife
Kristy, (No it wasn't an April fools joke) on a beautiful South
Australian island. Yes it's true artists are somewhat different, and
Edmonds certainly can be described as eccentric, earning him the respect
of how to be mad but in the natural way. This can be clearly seen in the
picture Der Eulenturm (the old wooden house and
tower). He had the feeling that his blood was flowing through this
picture as he drew. Indeed the trees in the background not only
represent the rustling of leaves but actually his heart, further more
the branches representing his own arteries carrying the said red stuff.
As is already said, the artist always wants the feeling of real life and
this is no exception as he signed the picture with his own blood !!!!! Paul Edmonds is now a member of
A.G.R.A.
Australian Guild of Realist Artists. It is in this land that he
will go on yet to further heights and to display his already brilliant
talents. It is not yet the end of his travels, but a further development
to "The World's Greatest Pencil Artist" this an AV from a dear
New York friend of his. Where does the journey go from here? The Art Beast is a realist at heart and not just with his use in using sharpened tools on paper. He uses his medium to go beyond it. But if you should like to further find out more. Then why not send him an e-mail.
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