Painter puts pursuits in perspective

Few students are fortunate enough to study and make a career out of something they love. If you’re painting and printmaking senior Vianney Paul, you’re discovering that this tedious balancing act is no simple feat.

From his cozily cluttered Carver studio apartment, Paul, who hails from the Brittany region of northwestern France, said painting is a love he is committed to being true to for the rest of his life.

“It was less of a decision and more of a realization for me,” Paul said.

His work is abstract-thick, dramatic strokes of expression contrast sharply with the bright, bold fields of color that dominate his work. Paul’s maturity and talent are evident in his paintings and the efficient use of his small studio apartment where art work hangs everywhere. His homemade workbench is designed for a wide variety of crafting techniques and is a testament to the young artist’s ambitions.

Though primarily a painter, Paul did not take long to find an appreciation for printmaking, an art form he was not aware painters at VCU were required to pursue.

“I ended up in printmaking because I had to do it and I loved it,” Paul said.

The teachers and students have made Paul’s stay in Richmond not only more pleasant, but life-changing. The collaborations he has had with students and teachers have also been influential on his art.

“Being in school is such a great thing because it allows you to create a regular, consistent dialogue with people around you for one, two, three years,” Paul said. “Seeing other people’s work makes me question my work and causes me to doubt but also to reaffirm I’m here for the right reasons.”

Fearing he’d leave out someone important, Paul asked not to name his biggest faculty influences but said famous artists Gustav Klimt, Richard Diebenkorn, Alberto Giacometti and Francis Bacon all heavily influence his work.

Paul stressed the importance of other artistic disciplines and “being as eclectic as possible.” In addition to painting and printmaking, Paul’s other ventures – pottery, paper-making, sculpture, guitar and most recently, video – provide vital roles as both stress relief and creative outlets.

Ben Phan, a senior majoring in international studies, pointed Paul in a musical direction by lending him his guitar and showing him a few patterns.

“It was amazing,” Phan said. “I only needed to show him anything once. He was like a duck in water.”

Paul, who has played guitar for more than a month, said there is much to be appreciated about an aural art form as opposed to a visual one, although one is not necessarily better than the other.

“(Music) is a lot more immediate; it’s another outlet and another way to communicate with other people. Even if you’re the only person playing, it’s imposed in a way but also shared,” Paul said. “Painting or anything visual can be harder to get through sometimes.”

Phan and Paul became friends over a game of chess in the dorms and have been sharing their art ever since. Phan also had plenty to say of Paul’s work ethic.

“He’s one of the most serious, hardworking artists that I’ve ever known,” Phan said. “He’ll spend all night painting and really follows his own path really fiercely.”

As far as whether or not art school has jaded Paul into neglecting his art, Paul said it has only made it stronger. According to Paul, art school has made him more analytical, but also more skeptical about painting.

“I think there’s a duality now in the relationship I have toward painting as an activity,” Paul said. “It’s something simultaneously I feel obligated to do . at the same time, it liberates me from other things.”

Each week, the Spectrum section selects a talented student from the School of the Arts (music, dance, theater and visual) and showcases his or her achievements both in and around the VCU community. Do you want your name and work in the CT? E-mail spectrum@commonwealthtimes.com for consideration.