Quick spray of colour

By Kath Gannaway
PAUL Sonsie is inspired by life … and other things.
The 21yearold Healesville artist recently launched his first solo exhibition at The Bodhi Tree Cafe in Healesville adding a splash of colour and vibrancy to the rustic restaurant which, in itself, is a colourful landmark on the local cafe/entertainment scene.
“I work in as many different mediums as I can get my hands on,” Paul said.
“My latest is working with spray paint. I love that I can produce really big paintings without spending years doing them.”
Art is just one of a number of creative pursuits for Paul who is a black belt in martial arts, a musician who, not content with one instrument, plays drums, guitar and harmonica.
“I come from a very creative family. Both my sisters did art all through school and at home, and both are dancers,” he said.
“Like most children, I started (art) as soon as I could pick up a crayon and I was one of the lucky ones who didn’t stop when I got older.”
Paul says he is surrounded by colourful people, friends and family who influence his work, but, he says with passion, “My one big influence throughout my art is Salvador Dali. He’s my idol.”
With unquestioned admiration for the famous surrealist painter, Paul says he has even named his dog after him.
Paul draws ideas from other areas, including pictures, magazines and books, for instance, but puts his own creative life into those ideas.
“I want to create artwork that’s something new, something that’s never been seen before and I like to have a lot of colour and life in my work.
“The aim of my work is to entertain people and have colour and activity so rather than looking at the work as they pass by, people are captured by those elements,” he said.
The Bodhi Tree exhibition, at Healesville’s East End, will run for the next two weeks and Paul also has work on display at The Foxhole in Healesville and Immerse in Dixons Creek.