Artist Statement

Beginning a new work, the composition is sketched out first, while the concept or narrative has already been mapped out in my head. I like to have the idea first and then let the painting develop like film. With the stage drawn, color and interesting characters are put in to keep the action moving. The characters take on different personas. Houses, instruments, vegetation and other common symbols are metaphors for my painted words. I prefer to paint on wood, I love the slick surface, building it up and layering color on top. I try to capture the loose drawing style in my preliminary drawings and paint them into the work.

All my life I have heard tales, stories, anecdotes and phrases that are part of the culture in southern Louisiana. As an artist I have the privilege of being a participating native as well as an observer. Most of the stories are local yet they have universal meaning. My paintings reflect this universal ideology. Surreal in nature, each painting has a rhythm and a charged movement... The movement in each piece is very important. I want the work to create a stir – emotionally and physically.

- Paul Schexnayder