Paul Norwood

"Bay Blues" waves crash on the shore below a sky of clouds, impasto seascape

2024

“Communicating sensation through figuration has always been a central theme in my work. I never tire of the endless challenges and opportunities the human form presents. And by combining the figure with bold graphic elements, an invisible, layered reality emerges. Concentric circles echo the rippling of water and heighten the already charged world the figures inhabit. The aggressive handling of palette knife and paint mimic the fluidity and energy of the subject matter. I’m constantly striving to represent form with fewer strokes and a simpler palette, engaging the viewer to complete the piece in their own minds eye. I draw my inspiration from many different sources. The Bay Area figurative artists, the colorist approach of Fairfield Porter and the abstraction of Sonia Delaunay.” Paul Norwood grew up on the coast of Maine and decided early on that he’d rather paint the sea than fish from it. He went on to study fine art and graduate from Syracuse University with a BFA. His career as an art director and creative director has had a lasting influence on his work. He now paints full time at his studio in Mill Valley, California and on Martha’s Vineyard.