(2000-2002) Selected paintings
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(2000-2002) Selected sketches
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Artist Statement

My paintings explore personal nostalgic memories. Coming to terms with one's identity is a process of revisiting the past with the present. How you remember people, events, and moments are at times idealized and vague. The paintings showcased evoke a longing to return to what once was or the romanticized idea of the past through portriature.

Background

I came to the United States from the Philippines in 1987 and grew up in rural Ohio. I received my BFA in Painting & Drawing at The Ohio State University where I found great inspiration for some of my work. I presently reside in San Francisco, California.

As a youth, drawing has always been a part of my identity. However, I only started painting while in college. Today I don't paint as much as I would like, however I am staying creatively active through graphic design.

The subject matter of my paintings are a reflection of my own life. What I chose to paint is deeply connected to me.

Self-portrait sketch (c. 2003)

Stylistically, I paint how I draw. Influenced heavily by comic books, graffiti, portrait paintings and abstraction, I try to find a middle ground between these influences as it pertains to my visual vocabulary. Accurate realistic representation is not my ultimate intent in my work, but rather to evoke emotion through narrative portriature.

By showcasing my old work, my goal is to get back into painting again.

Paul Torres

Thank you for taking the time to view my work. Please contact me if you have any questions or comments pertaining to my paintings, I'd love to hear from you.

Email: art@paultorres.net
Twitter: @mrpaultorres
Instagram: @mrpaultorres
Location: San Francisco, CA (USA)