​Contemporary South African Art

Paul Munro was born in Cape Town, South Africa on the 12th of March 1959. He matriculated at Thorton High where he studied Commercial Art.

Under the guidance and teachings of his father, Gordon Munro – an amateur artist, Paul started painting and drawing from childhood. Paul’s love for nature was profoundly evident in these early works, depicting the African landscape and wildlife. His paintings were displayed and sold by Art Galleries in Cape Town whilst he was still a schoolboy. From 1977 to 1981 he served in the SA Police Force. During these turbulent political years, he was stationed in Johannesburg and Cape Town. He studied Commercial Art via correspondence from 1981 to 1983 and sustained himself as a bodyguard for a prominent business celebrity. In 1983 he started painting full-time. Loaded with a backpack, two-man tent and art materials, Paul wandered around South Africa. He spent periods completely isolated from civilization, capturing the rhythmic forms of the local landscape. It was during this period that he blossomed into a painter of authority and commitment. Here he developed his close emotional accord with Nature and the skill needed to express these emotions. In his own words “to paint a mountain, you first have to climb it.” This adherence to factual truthfulness is a trait Paul has treasured throughout his career. 

Paul currently resides in Port Elizabeth where he is prolifically producing landscapes, seascapes and figure studies. He still firmly believes that all art education starts and ends with nature as the tutor. He is an active sportsman, involved in kickboxing, he holds Springbok colours and a karate black belt.

 

Ref:  Henry Taylor Gallery presents

 

Interview with the Artist



Paul Munro - surfer, artist, adventurer

You might have seen Paul's lil mobile studio parked at Denvils recently. Made by his son Gordon, it's an art studio on the move. Hooked up to his 4x4 this things can go anywhere and has. Car Park John had given me the heads up about Paul, who sounded like one super interesting & talented ou, so I stopped off for a visit. And boy, I wasn't disappointed, his art is insaaaaane.



Paul was having a surf at Denvils when I arrived, so mate Chris Taljaard had to holler him in so I could have a chat. Luckily the wind was beginning to klap it already so he paddled in.



So Paul, how's this whole gig work?



I just park my mobile studio wherever I want, and then do some painting...and take a break every now and again to hit the surf. I'm lucky to have orders for my work right up til 2013. A gallery in Joburg takes all my stuff. They send a courier to find me wherever I'm parked!

What sort of stuff are you painting?

I do mainly landscapes - the Karoo and inland. That's what most of the market is for these days. I also do animals and seascapes. I paint mainly in oils and acrylics, as well as sketch a bit too. Painting range from big 2m x 1m canvases to smaller 30cm one's. A smaller one takes a few hours, whereas the big one's take a day at least.



Where do you get your inspiration from? Do you paint from photographs?



No, I paint straight from my head (Ed - when you see the level of detail in his painting this fact will blow your mind). I've traveled extensively around South Africa, so have plenty of mental pictures in my mind of places I've visited and things I've seen. Back in the day I backpacked round the country with just my easel, tent and dog for two years, so have a lot of memories from that.

I've always been into painting - I had my first exhibition at 15. My dad was an artist.



So what was the idea behind the mobile art studio?



As I sell all my work to galleries, I miss out on the interaction with the people who buy my pieces. The mobile art studio puts me back in touch with the public, and let's me sell some work directly to them as well - which is satisfying to see happy customers. Gordon, Chris and I plan to take the studio on a road trip from PE to Elands Bay. Just stopping off at all the surf spots along the way, and painting. Hopefully I'll sell enough paintings en route to cover our trip

 

Ref: http://www.millerslocal.co.za/paul-munro---surfer-artist-adventurer.html