Ygartua Art Chronicles

Today we talk all about abstracts. Ever wondered what is going on in an artist's mind when he's painting an abstract? or how they find inspiration? Ed is digging deep into Paul's relationship to abstraction and we gain some really interesting insights.

Taking off from the last episode all about the "United in History" Mural, Ed, Paul and Joanne continue to discuss the importance of the native community in Bella Bella, talk about the emotional impact of this special project as well as the wonderful potlatch ceremony. Enjoy!

Welcome back after a long holiday break! Today we're back in BC, Canada and we're heading far North to the home of the indigenous Heiltsuk Nation, Bella Bella. In 2013, Paul is commissioned to paint the mural, entitled "United in History". The goal was to represent the Heiltsuk Nation and the individuals who made a significant contribution to the founding of the Bella Bella area since 1833.

Join Ed, Paul and Joanne this week as we head to the birth town of Paul's father in the Basque Country, where he paints his first cubistic style mural in 2010. The beautiful beach town of Gorliz is home to some of the most gorgeous scenery in the Basque Country and is very representative of their strong sense of pride in their culture.

Let's head south to the beautiful Mexican resort city of Cabo San Lucas! Paul and Joanne travelled back and forth to Cabo many times over a period of 8 years, during which Paul painted for the Golden Cactus Gallery there. His subject matter ranged from local native portraiture to the famous Mexican mariachi groups. In the second part of the interview, Ed will be taking us back North to Ely, Nevada, where Paul painted the "United by our Children" mural in 2001.

We're back in the year 2000 today, as Ed continues his discussion with Paul and Joanne about the Beachcomber monumental mural and as well as the Chagall inspired dome painted in the factory's boardroom.

Join us today for an exciting episode. Ed is talking with Paul and Joanne all about the Beachcomber Millennium Mural in Surrey BC. At the time, this was the largest mural painted freehand by one person. 31 faces of over 3 metres high each and he painted the whole thing with one single paint brush!

We're heading back into the 90s today and exploring all the styles that Paul added to his repertoire during this productive decade. As Paul and Joanne continued their international travels they were also trying to reach a wider audience by participating in large art shows in North America and Internationally. We're now talking about thousands of people instead of hundreds attending a show and as a result they develop a strong patronage.

Join us today as we head to the Venice Carnaval and then to the exciting city of Seville in Spain during the early 90s. Paul and Joanne talk to Ed about the importance and the meaning of the masks over the years in Paul's work.

We're back to the South of France today, talking about the Cannes Film Festival and Paul's encounter with the Harley Davidson community there which led to him painting his super realistic Harley Davidson series. You'll be surprised at how long it took him to paint one!

Sit back and relax as we head to the French Riviera. In today's episode, Ed talks with Joanne and Paul all about their life in Cannes. They would spend the next 8 years going back and forth between the South of France and Vancouver, spending one year at a time in Cannes. Paul would paint and sell his work on the famous La Croisette promenade in front of the prestigious Carlton Hotel. They met lots of characters along the way, enjoyed the easy Cannes lifestyle and its fantastic location.

Welcome back to Ygartua Art Chronicles after our long summer break! Our host Ed is back today with Paul and Joanne to discuss the plexiglass style in more detail, their next year long trip to France, as well as an unfortunate accident in Chemainus that could have left Paul crippled for the rest of his life. They talk about the physical challenges of painting every day and how Paul manages them.

We head 4000 km East today, as Paul, Joanne and kiddoes settle down in chilly but beautiful Québec city. With our fantastic host Ed, we find out all about life in this part of Canada and Paul's new and unique technique that he develops in 1987 after having attended the New York Art Expo: reverse painting on plexiglass. Enjoy!

Join Ed today for Part 2 of the Expo 86 mural in Vancouver, as he chats with Paul and Joanne all about the technical and artistic challenges involved in painting a mural of this scale as well as the media attention that resulted from being involved in such an important project.

Hard work, perseverance, unwavering optimism, relentless confidence and a series of fortunate events… is what it took to bring about the Expo 86 “A World United" mural. Join Ed today as he chats with Paul and Joanne about Vancouver's Expo 86 as well as Joanne's positive approach to dealing with the financial side of things over the years.

This week, Ed is travelling back to Spain once again with Paul and Joanne. But this time it's with kids in tow and the goal is to fully immerse themselves in the Basque culture. They discuss the customs, the fiestas, the family, the beautiful beaches, the picturesque medieval town of Plentzia and the farming and fishing town of Gorliz. They finish off in Sitges, one of their favourite spots in Spain that ended up being their summer destination for the next 30 years.

The Copacabana, the Carnival, the Amazon Natives, Pele, the favellas... Rio de Janeiro was filled with colour and inspiration. Join Paul, Joanne and Ed today as they discuss the excitement of life in Rio in the mid 80s and how Paul's work was influenced by this new experience.

Paul painted his first large mural in the little town of Chemainus on Vancouver Island in 1983, at age 38. He was fearless when he approached this gigantic wall that measured 15.4 metres long by 5.2 metres high. During this episode Ed talks to Paul about painting on such a large scale. They then continue to discuss with Joanne the importance of creative confidence as an artist.

Sit back and relax. We're headed to Hawaii baby, where life is too good! Our wonderful host Ed chats with Paul and Joanne about their return to Canada after Jerusalem and their life in Waikiki in the early 80s with the arrival of Baby number 2, Anton. Two years of non-stop work that felt just like a holiday!