Artists: Paul Mitchell

Paul Mitchell

A serious interest in art began for me as a sophomore in high school.  Though I took my very first art class with an ulterior motive in mind (I just wanted to talk to the girls), I surprised myself by actually producing some decent work.

In my senior year, my art teacher encouraged me to enter a piece in the California State Fair competition, and I placed second in the category.  This fueled a fire in me and I began exploring different media and subject matter as I continued taking art classes in college.  I entered several pieces in local art exhibits and was rewarded with first, second and third place ribbons, as well as, Judges’ Choice.

Though I enjoy a variety of materials and subjects, somewhere along the way, I became particularly captivated by faces.  I love trying to capture a subject’s character and essence and then translating that into a two-dimensional expression.  Exploring different techniques and tools is part of the fun that continues to inspire me.  Other inspiration comes in the form of associating with fellow artists.

Most recently, I was honored by being selected by my peers for The People’s Choice Award at the 2009 Rocklin Fine Arts Membership Show.  Being involved with Rocklin Fine Arts allows me to meet talented artists who share my joy in creativity and a desire to continually grow and learn.  Art is an important part of my life now, and my hope is that others enjoy what I do as much as I enjoy doing it.