After studying Architectural
Technology at Ryerson Poytechnical Institute and working in
the field of construction for 25 years, as a specialist in
sales, marketing and public relations, Paul turned his attention
to his first love, painting and photographing Canada’s
wilderness areas.
Paul started painting, in 1966, during fall
sketching trips in the Madawaska with his father, Joachim
and a number of artists, including his brother, Edmond, A.J.Casson,
Alan Collier, Anthony Law, Bruno Cavallo and others. Paul
prefers the more rugged and remote areas of Canada, from Gros
Morne Newfoundland, to the high Arctic Islands, to the western
coastal and Rocky mountains, to Algonquin Park, Algoma, Georgian
Bay and Haliburton/Muskoka.
In 1994, the Canadian Coast Guard, authorized
a six week voyage, in Arctic waters, aboard the C.C.G.S. Henry
Larsen icebreaker. Paul traveled the Labrador coast into Frobisher
Bay and along the west coast of Greenland to Lancaster Sound,
Strathcona Sound, while the Coast Guard was assisting and
guiding shipping into various Arctic communities. Paul has
traveled to the Arctic on seven occasions, resulting in showing
his works in galleries across Ontario. Expeditions on the
Firth, Nahanni and Tatshenshini rivers, have made Gauthier
more aware of the fragile ecology of these habitats and the
great need to protect them from commercial encroachment.
Paul’s trip to Greenland, as Artist
in residence, for Travel Dynamics New York, aboard the vessel
Illiria, brought him in touch with various people from the
scientific community. This experience intensified his awareness
of endangered species and places.
A grant from the Royal Canadian Geographic
Society, in 1987, along with logistical support from the Polar
Continental Shelf Project, allowed Paul to travel and photograph
the High Arctic Islands, for the purpose of reference material,
resulting in a showing of Arctic paintings.
Paul was commissioned by the North Channel
Preservation Society, in 1987, to produce a limited edition
serigraph of one of A.J.Casson’s paintings of Baie Fine.
Mr. Casson assisted Paul, in the artistic control of the print.
Subsequently, the Ontario Heritage Foundation has enacted
an historical brief to contain the site, named Casson Peak.
As technical advisor in 1989, for the film,
“And There Were Seven”, produced by Conrad Beaubien
of Beaver Creek Films, on the life of A.J.Casson and the Group
of Seven; Paul gained an insight into film production which
piqued his interest in furthering the adaptation of Art and
Wilderness as a vehicle for public presentation.
In 1991, the Town of Markham honoured Paul,
with the Town of Markham Achievement and Civic Recognition
Award for Art and Cultural contribution to the community.
Paul has instructed workshops in Markham,
Scarborough, Ottawa, and Madawaska and most recently along
with RoseMarie Condon at the La Cloche Art Festival in July
2006. They will be the featured artists of the 29th La Cloche
show. Paul’s and RoseMarie’s paintings will be
on display. They will jury the paintings entered in the Festival
www.geocities.com/laclocheartshow.
Paul’s oeuvre has been exhibited in
numerous shows in Canadian cities. His pieces belong to corporate
and private collections, including Manu-Life Centre, Nesbitt/Burns,
Toronto Board of Trade, IBM Canada, Canadian General Electric,
Merrill Lynch Co., Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Sears
Chicago, Crown Life Insurance Co., Texaco, H.R.H. Prince Andrew
and many others.
Paul is represented by, John A. Libby Fine
Arts Toronto, Canada House Gallery Banff, Natures Scene Georgetown.
He is an active member of the Arts & Letters Club Toronto
and is a member of Worldwide Nature Artists Group at www.natureartists.com.
|
