An Industrial Artist's Natural Inspiration

It was a night of firsts at the Wilton Library Tuesday. 

South African native artist Paul Balmer spent the last month as Weir Farm's most recent Artist in Residence and ended his stay with a live demonstration at his exhibition. 

"I've never painted in front of 35 people before," said Balmer as he stood in front of a mysterious black canvas. 

For the library, it was a unique reception as well. 

"This is the first time that we have had a live demonstration!" said Sally Gemmil, the library's program manager. 

After some Power Point issues the exhibition got underway and after leading the audience through a visual series of his artistic career, Balmer headed over to the canvas and started to paint New York's Chrysler Building. 

To look at Balmer's prep table, one would wonder if he spends more time in galleries or Home Depot.   

"I do a little conventional painting with a brush, but I also use power tools," explained Balmer.  "I use a Dremel to sketch and also a sander."

When the artist gets a sketch just right he then spends a lot of time mixing the colors.  Balmer paints with oils on a primed canvas done with either black house paint or, more frequently, with black gesso. 

"When you make a mark on the dark color it's more effective," he said.

Balmer's formal education in Sydney led him to study fine art, but he switched majors and graduated with a degree in graphic design.  As a graphic designer, a position where his artistic talent was limited to drawing hummus and a roach motel, Balmer felt dismayed. 

"I did these and I thought there's got to be a better job than this," he said.  

After his stint in graphic design, Balmer headed to Europe and began painting in a neo-classical style.  He taught figure drawing in Switzerland and traveled to Paris and all around Europe. 

"That's where my painting began," he said. 

Once he moved to New York City his art was transformed again and he began painting, as he says, like a five year old. 

"I tried to draw what the place was like.  It's a little crazy there," he chuckled.

Although he often paints gritty cityscapes, he enjoys creating landscapes as well.   In fact, since he was surrounded by beautiful trees and earthy colors at Weir, landscapes are the majority of what he painted while there.  Surprisingly, he has been painting at Weir for the past ten years.  Balmer's sister, Alison Vail, is a Weir Farm neighbor.

"I thought the Artist in Residence program was more for up-and-coming artists, not established ones like Paul," said Vail.  But he was accepted into the program. "It was kind of lucky fun, especially since I could go home to a home-cooked meal at my sister's house," said Balmer.

"A lot of these landscapes," said Balmer directing the audience to his displayed paintings in the Brubeck Room, "were done at Weir Farm and the colors reflect the colors there, specifically the green for the land and the red for the barns." 

Balmer's work has been sold in galleries all over the world.  The least expensive one he sold was $4,000, the most $45,000. It is clear Balmer has made a career out of something he truly loves doing. 

To see more of the work that Balmer has created and to find out about contact information visit his website at www.paulbalmer.com. 

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