Interview With The Artist - Meet Paul Brent
By Peter Paslis

Sourcing Home Products is delighted to work with some of today’s most talented artists, bringing you their rich and varied works in a creative new medium: tile! Getting to know the artist behind the image can make your tile mural all the more meaningful, so we’re pleased to introduce you to today’s featured artist, Paul Brent.

Brent’s work is recognized worldwide, capturing Florida’s innate beauty on paper and canvas. Best known for his idyllic watercolors of coastal life, the artist describes his style as “contemporary realism — my work doesn’t look like the old masters, but like it was painted today.”

Brent has been painting and drawing since he was a small child. An Oklahoma native, he majored in art when he started college, but later switched to architecture. Brent painted solely for pleasure until the mid-‘70s, when he began to sell his work at galleries and art festivals — primarily pen and ink drawings of coastal wildlife tinted with light washes of watercolor.

Brent’s work has shown constant progression throughout his career, from the transparent tradition of watercolors to richer layered paintings that explore the depth of color possible with oils. When asked about his favorite themes, Brent remains enthusiastic about coastal and nature subjects. “I started out painting coastal wildlife, birds, fish and shells,” he explains, “and then moved to landscape and garden scenes.”

How does he choose his subjects? “I take time to explore and photograph scenes of interest when we travel to coastal locations like Hawaii, New England and the Caribbean. And of course, I can always find lots of great subjects at home in Florida.”

Brent met Sourcing Home Products at a New York trade show, and the rest is history. His art translates well to the tile medium for several reasons. Brent explains, “My work is crisp and clean, reproducing well because of its clarity. Another reason is the color palette — there is definition in both the color and the detail.”

Fans of this prolific artist are eagerly anticipating the newest directions for Brent’s art. In the works is a series of beach scenes in a primary color palette, as well as a spa series that uses metallic paint for accents.

From tropical landscapes and color-drenched florals to whimsical children’s art, Brent’s tile murals span a wide range of styles and decorating possibilities. To view the current selection, visit sourcinghomeproducts.com and click on “Featured Artist.”

Peter Paslis is Vice President of Operations for Sourcing Home Products, a leading online resource for home accents that reflect your personal sense of style. Reach Peter at peterp@sourcinghomeproducts.com or (973) 968-7050, and shop online at http://www.sourcinghomeproducts.com