Paul Illian
When asked how it all began, alluding to his artistic endeavors, Paul, our current president, replied that he didn’t know how to be an artist. He claimed that he wasn’t an artist in the manner in which other artists talk about such. I knew from the get-go that this was going to be a very different kind of profile.
“How can you NOT consider yourself an artist when you create such lovely images on canvas and paper?” I asked. Paul explained that he always needs some kind of lingering representation in his mind before he fully embarks on an art project because when he closes his eyes, all he sees is a black void. He cannot imagine a scene or “see” what he wants to create in his mind’s eye beyond that initial message from his unconscious that commands that he pay attention. This is a condition called aphantasia.
Paul relies instead on his unconscious or what he likes to call his intuition. He observes the world around him and when he sees something that his intuition says he should tend to, he does. Whatever that was becomes his inspiration for his next art effort. However, that intuition does NOT tell him how or why he should proceed. Then begins the work of being the kind of artist he is; It takes a lot of focus (he works slowly), attention, and perseverance to produce a piece of art that satisfies him.
Paul is continually redefining himself, at least artistically speaking, in that for much of his life he has moved from one creative endeavor to another. First he worked for Boeing until that ceased to satisfy his creative needs. Then he built an airplane with the help 200 students, worked as an engineer for treasure hunters, ran a bio-mechanics lab, and taught high school sports. He joined Artists United about six or seven years ago and, while tending to his intuition (and my “kind” invitation) has served twice as President and Board Member at Large.
His “wanderlust” (his word) continues with his art. He loves to teach but will only teach with each model once, (except for cardinals which are so darned popular, especially near Christmas.) He is mostly self taught, relying on experimenting and some trial and error to achieve his goals; remember that his intuition does NOT tell him HOW to make art or WHY a particular scene made him stop and take note.
He teaches small group art lessons using acrylic, each focusing on a specific painting technique, at Burien’s Makers Space. Take a lesson with him? I have done so several times and found it rewarding. He also paints landscapes in oil or acrylic, animals in pen and ink (ask to see his warthog) and humans in colored pencil.
His leadership style may seem a bit pushy at times, but if you understand that he is tending to his intuition, which has never steered him wrong, you may see that, when faced with barriers, he is, above all, bound to be persistent and he KNOWS it will pay off. He hopes you will trust that part of him and know that he does have affection and
empathy for AU’s members (even if he sometimes has trouble showing such) and he will do what he can to help them realize their own potential.
I noticed Paul’s unwavering confidence when he decided that we should put on the Paralyzed Veterans of America pop-up show. I listed several reasons why this was not a good idea (timing was awful, too late to advertise well, the weather was yucky, etc.) But Paul held fast and it was a very successful show. He also spent most of his waking hours that month tending to the show and its business. That’s another example of his commitment to persistence.
Paul is also persistent in his vision and dream for Artists United to have and operate its own art gallery here in Burien. Our own members’ efforts and time will help determine when and if that dream is realized
Paul has two adult sons who live fairly close by and four grandchildren. His longtime partner is named Lea; they have known each other since their youth. She lives in Florida, where he was also raised, and they get together as often as they can. However, the Pacific Northwest is his home now. End here? Florida can keep its alligators and swamps but that is where Lea lives
When asked how it all began, alluding to his artistic endeavors, Paul, our current president, replied that he didn’t know how to be an artist. He claimed that he wasn’t an artist in the manner in which other artists talk about such. I knew from the get-go that this was going to be a very different kind of profile.
“How can you NOT consider yourself an artist when you create such lovely images on canvas and paper?” I asked. Paul explained that he always needs some kind of lingering representation in his mind before he fully embarks on an art project because when he closes his eyes, all he sees is a black void. He cannot imagine a scene or “see” what he wants to create in his mind’s eye beyond that initial message from his unconscious that commands that he pay attention. This is a condition called aphantasia.
Paul relies instead on his unconscious or what he likes to call his intuition. He observes the world around him and when he sees something that his intuition says he should tend to, he does. Whatever that was becomes his inspiration for his next art effort. However, that intuition does NOT tell him how or why he should proceed. Then begins the work of being the kind of artist he is; It takes a lot of focus (he works slowly), attention, and perseverance to produce a piece of art that satisfies him.
Paul is continually redefining himself, at least artistically speaking, in that for much of his life he has moved from one creative endeavor to another. First he worked for Boeing until that ceased to satisfy his creative needs. Then he built an airplane with the help 200 students, worked as an engineer for treasure hunters, ran a bio-mechanics lab, and taught high school sports. He joined Artists United about six or seven years ago and, while tending to his intuition (and my “kind” invitation) has served twice as President and Board Member at Large.
His “wanderlust” (his word) continues with his art. He loves to teach but will only teach with each model once, (except for cardinals which are so darned popular, especially near Christmas.) He is mostly self taught, relying on experimenting and some trial and error to achieve his goals; remember that his intuition does NOT tell him HOW to make art or WHY a particular scene made him stop and take note.
He teaches small group art lessons using acrylic, each focusing on a specific painting technique, at Burien’s Makers Space. Take a lesson with him? I have done so several times and found it rewarding. He also paints landscapes in oil or acrylic, animals in pen and ink (ask to see his warthog) and humans in colored pencil.
His leadership style may seem a bit pushy at times, but if you understand that he is tending to his intuition, which has never steered him wrong, you may see that, when faced with barriers, he is, above all, bound to be persistent and he KNOWS it will pay off. He hopes you will trust that part of him and know that he does have affection and
empathy for AU’s members (even if he sometimes has trouble showing such) and he will do what he can to help them realize their own potential.
I noticed Paul’s unwavering confidence when he decided that we should put on the Paralyzed Veterans of America pop-up show. I listed several reasons why this was not a good idea (timing was awful, too late to advertise well, the weather was yucky, etc.) But Paul held fast and it was a very successful show. He also spent most of his waking hours that month tending to the show and its business. That’s another example of his commitment to persistence.
Paul is also persistent in his vision and dream for Artists United to have and operate its own art gallery here in Burien. Our own members’ efforts and time will help determine when and if that dream is realized
Paul has two adult sons who live fairly close by and four grandchildren. His longtime partner is named Lea; they have known each other since their youth. She lives in Florida, where he was also raised, and they get together as often as they can. However, the Pacific Northwest is his home now. End here? Florida can keep its alligators and swamps but that is where Lea lives
