Our demonstrator for the March meeting will be painter Paul McMillan. Everyone is welcome!
The meeting is at 7:15 p.m. Monday, March 18 at McKeesport High School.
Paul was born in Kansas, raised in Texas, lived in Taos, NM and Ithaca, NY, but now resides and works in Pittsburgh. He is a self-taught artist best known for his landscapes and still life paintings.
Paul’s style ranges from classical to abstract and has occasionally included his original poetry and music as subject matter.
His artwork is strong in light, shadow and atmosphere, with deep, rich colors. Most of Paul’s paintings are created with a wet color technique, using stand oil mixed with small amounts of beeswax and mastic resin as a medium. This adds to the depth and luminosity of pigments and works well for both impasto and smooth surfaces. A very thin coat of varnish is used to protect the finished painting without altering the sheen or texture. Many of the frames for his paintings are made from scratch and are hand carved and gilded.
Paul began pursuing art as a profession in 1978 and has received numerous awards including:
- 1995 — Best of Show at Taos Spring Arts
- 1999 — Second Overall, “25th Anniversary Taos Fall Arts Festival,” Taos, NM
- 2001 — First Place, “20th Annual Art Exhibit,” Lewisburg Festival of The Arts, Lewisburg, PA
- 2011 — Jurors Choice, “Halo Exhibit” Pittsburgh Society of Artists, Pittsburgh, PA
- 2011 — Best of Show, “Westmoreland Art Nationals,” Latrobe, PA
- 2011 – Peoples’ Choice, “Westmoreland Art Nationals,” Latrobe, PA
- 2011 — Merit Award “Hoyt Mid Atlantic Juried Exhibition, New Castle, PA
- 2012 — Joan Swanson Macey Award, 2012 Annual Exhibit, Pgh. Society of Artists, Pgh., PA
McKeesport Art Group 