Blue Mountains Artists Company: Member Profile

Paul du Moulin

Folded Strata

Paul describes his paintings as ideal or instinctive landscapes. While primarily drawing on the Blue Mountains environment for his inspiration he doesnt reproduce it. Instead its filtered through an inner vision resulting in a dreamlike fusion of the abstract and the realistic.

He explores the sense of distance and depth by not only showing a normal perspective but at the same time exploring the idea of slicing through the land exposing the inner layers. Paul has developed an unconfined and expansive style of textured surfaces that assist in the navigation through the various terrains. The work falls somewhere between realism and pure abstraction.

This process involves making an enormous number of aesthetic decisions about even the most minute details exposing the subtlest visual distinctions. Each painting engenders a personal experience often reminding one of a much loved and special place creating a connection that can be freely interpreted by the viewer.

Pauls technique is to apply one layer of colour over another while always allowing a part of each stage to show through thus creating the sort of depth and intensity of a real landscape. This gives the finished work an element of chance. The palette generally consists of warm hues such as burnt sienna violet and yellow ochre with ultramarine and prussian blue as counterpoints. His brushstrokes are carefully blended together to create an underlying ambiguity unfolding into an uncluttered finished surface.

The larger brushy canvases typically feature earth tones with uneven expressive textures created by areas of extremely thick pigment and plaster. The surface is obviously irregular enhancing the immediacy and sometimes gentle and at other times powerful intensity of the works.

Pauls works stand strongly on their own conveying a mesmerising imagery allowing us to appreciate the beauty of a well balanced composition appealing textures and the precious specimen box way in which they are presented.

Pauls influences are many and varied Arthur Boyd Joseph Beuys Lloyd Rees Lucian Freud Fred Williams Lawrence Dawes and William Robertson. His interest in science and natural history is clearly reflected in the work as is his love of travel.

For a view of more of Paul du Moulins work visit his website on – www.dumoulin.com.au

Move! Mao to Now Exhib Jun 08

Exhibition in Beijing may 08

Exhibition in Beijing may 08